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Why livestock needs GPS tracking

Animals grazing over large areas can wander beyond visible range, cross into neighboring land, or go missing due to theft, injury, or a broken fence. A GPS tracker for farm animals gives the farm a continuous record of location, so a missing animal can be found quickly instead of after hours of searching on foot or by vehicle.

For larger herds, tracking also helps understand movement patterns, time spent in specific areas, and whether animals are staying within the expected grazing zone.

How to choose a tracker for this use

The main considerations for livestock are battery life, durability, and how the unit is attached to the animal. Key points to check:

• Battery autonomy, since animals are not connected to a power source like a vehicle
• Robust housing that tolerates outdoor conditions, dirt, and movement
• 4G connectivity for consistent reporting, such as the Teltonika ATC700 4G
• A mounting method suited to collars or straps rather than vehicle installation

The Teltonika ATC700 4G is designed as a standalone tracking unit rather than a vehicle device, which makes it suitable for attachment to livestock for position reporting.

Installation and the subscription

Setup for livestock tracking does not involve vehicle wiring. The unit is mounted or attached directly to the animal, and reporting starts once it connects to the network. Our subscription includes the SIM card for data, access to the Entopizo platform, and apps to check the position of each tracked animal from a phone or computer, along with alerts when configured.

A tracker without a subscription can still record or transmit positions in a limited way, but it will not have the SIM data connection or the continuous platform access that makes real-time tracking possible. Without an active data plan behind it, a farmer has no live map, no history, and no alerts, only whatever the device can store or send on its own, which defeats the purpose for animals that roam.

Real use cases

A farmer managing cattle across several pastures uses this type of tracker to confirm the herd remains in the assigned area and to locate any animal that strays or goes missing overnight. A livestock manager responsible for multiple farms uses it to check status remotely instead of visiting each location daily. In cases of theft, a working GPS tracker on the animal provides the last known position, which can be critical for recovery.

Frequently asked questions

Can this tracker work without cellular coverage?

The tracker relies on a mobile network connection to send its position, so coverage is needed in the area where the animal is kept. Coverage in most open farmland in Greece is generally sufficient for this purpose.

How long does the battery last on a livestock collar?

Battery life depends on how often the device reports its position and the conditions it operates in. Less frequent reporting intervals extend battery life significantly compared to continuous tracking.

Is this the same tracker used for vehicles?

No, the Teltonika ATC700 4G listed here is intended for standalone use cases like livestock rather than vehicle installation, which typically involves wired trackers connected to the vehicle's power system.

Do I need a subscription for livestock tracking to work?

Yes, to get live location, history, and alerts through the Entopizo platform, an active subscription with our SIM card is required. Without it, the device has no way to transmit data to the platform.