Farmer in Hérað tracks sheep’s movements using GPS technology

In summer, a farmer in Fellum, Hérað, kept himself entertained while his sheep roamed the mountains by tracking the whereabouts of one particular sheep named Ósk, using GPS technology. Baldur Grétarsson, the farmer, had long been curious about the sheep’s unusual patterns and the challenges it posed during the autumn sheep gathering.

This autumn, Ósk was sent to the slaughterhouse, and another sheep will now receive her GPS collar. “She always wandered far and was often found in Birnufellsskógar by autumn,” Baldur said. He expressed excitement about tracking her movements and finally locating her, as it had often been challenging to find her before, leading to missed opportunities due to late closures at the slaughterhouse.

Despite Baldur’s expectations, Ósk did not undertake long journeys this summer, possibly due to her age, although she still roamed a large area. He observed that she might have been avoiding goose hunters and was consistently searching for greener pastures for herself and her lambs. “I was genuinely surprised at the extent of her movements across the pasture this summer. I don’t know if this is unique to her or a general trait; perhaps we will learn more next summer when we attach the device to another sheep,” Baldur remarked.

Other farmers have shown interest in Baldur’s endeavor and he has received numerous inquiries about the GPS equipment. With the decreasing costs of such technology, it could prove beneficial for managing livestock and searching for missing animals. Baldur added, “People find this quite remarkable and are eager to know how far she has traveled.”