Which tracker is right for your farm?
There is no single best livestock tracker, only the right one for your ground and what you need it to do. Here is an honest look at each technology, its benefits, its limitations and the cost implications, so you can choose with your eyes open.
At a glance
| Technology | Coverage | Position | Running cost | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LoRa ear tag | No signal needed (own gateways) | Paddock level (GPS optional) | None per animal | Months to years |
| 4G / GPS collar | Mobile coverage only | Precise GPS | SIM per animal / year | Weeks to months |
| Satellite (NTN) | Anywhere with sky view | GPS, periodic | Airtime per device | Depends on use |
| Bluetooth (BLE) | Short range / near phones | Proximity, coarse | None (needs readers) | Very long |
Indicative, actual figures depend on the device, reporting frequency and your ground. We confirm specifics in your quote.
Each technology in detail
LoRa / LoRaWAN ear tags
The whole-flock backboneLight, low-power tags that report over long-range radio to your own base stations (gateways) on the farm, instead of the mobile network.
Benefits
- +Work where there is no mobile signal, across fells, hills and valleys.
- +No SIM for every animal, so no per-animal running cost.
- +Low device cost and long battery life, so tagging a whole flock is affordable.
- +One gateway covers many animals over a wide area.
Limitations
- -A light ear tag is usually located to paddock level (which gateways hear it) rather than a precise GPS pin, unless it carries a GNSS module.
- -You need gateways sited on high ground, which is an upfront cost and some planning.
- -Coverage stops at the edge of your gateway network, so it does not follow an animal taken off the farm.
Cost: Lowest cost per tag, and no per-animal running cost. The main spend is the gateways, which are a one-off, shared across the whole flock. Cheapest option at scale.
Best for: Hill, upland and common grazing, and any farm wanting to tag the whole flock economically.
4G / GPS collars
Precise, and works off the farmA collar with a GPS receiver and a mobile SIM, reporting a precise position over the 4G network from anywhere with mobile coverage.
Benefits
- +Precise GPS position, down to a few metres.
- +Works anywhere there is mobile coverage, including following an animal off the farm, which matters for theft.
- +No on-farm gateways to install.
Limitations
- -A SIM cost per animal, every year.
- -Larger and heavier, so on sheep it means a neck collar, not an ear tag.
- -More battery drain, so recharging or swapping is more frequent.
- -No fix where there is no mobile signal.
Cost: Higher device cost, plus an annual SIM cost for every animal. Cost scales with the number of animals, so it suits a subset rather than a whole large flock.
Best for: Higher-value animals, off-farm and theft-recovery tracking, and farms with good mobile coverage.
Satellite (NB-IoT / NTN) tags
For off-grid and recoveryTags that report via satellite, so they work with no mobile coverage and no gateways at all.
Benefits
- +Coverage with no mobile signal and no on-farm infrastructure.
- +Reports from truly remote or off-grid ground, and follows animals off the farm.
- +Ideal as a fallback that only fires when an animal leaves its normal area.
Limitations
- -Airtime cost per device.
- -Higher power use, so best used sparingly rather than for constant tracking.
- -Needs a reasonable view of the sky.
Cost: Higher device and airtime cost. Most economical used on a subset of animals, or set to transmit only on a stray or theft event, rather than on the whole flock continuously.
Best for: Remote off-grid stock and off-farm theft recovery, usually on selected animals.
Bluetooth (BLE) tags
Tiny, cheap, covertVery small, low-cost, long-life tags that are read at short range by a nearby reader, or by a passing smartphone on a crowd network.
Benefits
- +Smallest and cheapest devices, with very long battery life.
- +Small enough to be discreet or concealed, so harder for a thief to spot.
- +Useful as a low-cost presence check at a gate or race.
Limitations
- -Short range on their own, so they need readers, a relay, or a smartphone network to report.
- -On a crowd network they only report when near a phone, so they go quiet on empty ground.
- -A recovery aid rather than a primary live tracker.
Cost: Lowest device cost of all, but only useful with readers or a relay/network. Best treated as an inexpensive extra layer, not the main tracker.
Best for: Covert recovery, gate and race presence checks, and as a cheap add-on to another system.
How to choose, and why mixing wins
The honest answer is that most farms are best served by more than one technology. A common, cost-effective pattern is LoRa ear tags on the whole flock as the everyday backbone, with a handful of 4G or satellite devices on higher-risk animals so you can follow anything taken off the farm.
The single most important choice is the platform behind the tags. If it accepts more than one type of tag, you can start economical and add precision or off-farm reach where you need it, without being locked into one device as your needs change. Flockarewe is built exactly that way: LoRa, GPS, 4G and satellite tags all feed one live map, with geofencing, Flock Watch behaviour alerts and theft detection across the lot.
Still weighing it up? Our buyer's guide to sheep trackers goes deeper, or just tell us about your farm and we will recommend the right mix.
Tracker comparison, FAQs
Which livestock tracker is cheapest?
Per tag, LoRa ear tags and Bluetooth tags are the cheapest, and LoRa has no per-animal running cost, which makes it the most economical way to track a whole flock. The trade-off is that LoRa needs gateways (a shared upfront cost) and BLE needs readers or a relay. 4G collars and satellite tags cost more per device and carry ongoing SIM or airtime costs.
What is the difference between LoRa and GPS tracking?
GPS is how a device works out its position; LoRa is how a device sends that position back. A LoRa ear tag reports over your own gateways with no mobile signal and often locates to paddock level, while a GPS collar with a 4G SIM gives a precise pin but needs mobile coverage and a SIM per animal. Many setups combine them.
Do I need one type of tracker, or can I mix them?
Mixing is usually best. A common pattern is LoRa ear tags on the whole flock for everyday tracking and geofencing, with a few 4G or satellite devices on higher-risk animals for off-farm recovery. The key is a platform that accepts more than one type of tag so you are not locked in.
How much does it cost to track a whole flock?
The main costs are the tags, the gateways to cover your ground, any SIM or satellite airtime, and the software. On enclosed ground the tags dominate; on a large hill the gateways do. We quote per farm and usually start with a pilot on part of the flock to size it before you commit.
Not sure which fits your farm?
Tell us about your ground and your flock and we will recommend the right mix, with a tailored quote and a pilot to prove it first.
Get a tailored quote