Muíños launches pilot project using GPS-equipped cattle for fire prevention

A pilot project in Muíños, Galicia, is utilizing cattle and GPS technology to assist in forest fire prevention. Approximately 50 cows from a local farm are being used to naturally clear brush and weeds from areas near residential homes, creating firebreaks.

The initiative is a collaboration between the Consellería do Medio Rural, the public company Seaga, the Muíños City Council, and the technology firm Innogando. The system employs virtual fencing technology developed by Innogando, which uses GPS-enabled collars to guide livestock in extensive grazing without the need for physical fences.

María José Gómez, the Conselleira do Medio Rural, noted that the tool is useful for livestock management and improving farmers' quality of life while aiding fire prevention. The goal is to expand this model to other regions in Galicia to mitigate the seasonal impact of forest fires in the Ourense mountains.