Virtual Fencing : The Future of Livestock Management
What is virtual fencing?
The concept of a virtual or digital fence has been on the minds of farmers and researchers for many years and thanks to new technology, virtual fencing is now a practical and viable solution for livestock management.
Advances in GPS, wireless communication, and animal behaviour understanding have now allowed for the precise control of livestock movements without physical barriers. Animals are fitted with a GPS collar that tracks their location and provides cues like sounds or mild stimuli when they get close to the limits set by the farmers via an app on their phones. Virtual fencing, a relatively new technology, allows ranchers to control livestock distribution in rangeland landscapes without physical fences. Livestock wear collars that communicate with GPS and reception towers to form a virtual fence set by the rancher or land manager. When the livestock reach the limit of the virtual fence, auditory stimuli (a series of loud beeps) emit from the collar. If livestock continue their direction of travel beyond the boundaries of the virtual fence, they receive a benign shock. Cattle have demonstrated the ability and tendency to rapidly learn the virtual fencing cues, eventually responding to the audio cue alone. Several studies have documented success with sheep and goats as well.
A future without fences?
As an emerging precision livestock management technology, VF systems have not been rigorously tested in a wide variety of ecosystems. Virtual fencing has been largely successful at controlling livestock movement and limiting the use of burned areas in a flat sagebrush plant community outside of Burns, Oregon (Boyd et al. 2022). While promising, this study recognized the need to evaluate VF at larger spatial scales and in more topographically complex environments to better understand the effectiveness of VF systems in rangeland cattle production systems (Boyd et al. 2022). Preliminary results from the University of Arizona at the Santa Rita Experimental Range (SRER) in southern Arizona show that VF can be used to restrict the distribution of cattle within a pasture and reduce grazing activity in a riparian area, while encouraging grazing activity in a historically less used portion of the pasture. Preliminary observations on the SRER indicate the same individuals routinely pushed through the virtual fence, suggesting that there may be individual animals that don’t respond to virtual fence cues, and may be difficult to manage with virtual fences. Virtual fencing holds the potential to revolutionize grazing management in Arizona and the western United States by controlling the distribution, timing, and duration of livestock grazing on rangelands (Anderson et al. 2014). Implementing virtual fence systems, however, may be challenging due to the high upfront costs, and the logistical considerations of changing batteries and locating lost collars if they fall off animals. This tool may allow producers to design grazing systems that maximize quality forage intake, while more evenly distributing grazing across an area, and may potentially lower costs associated with maintenance of physical fences. However, it is unknown if virtual fences are an economically viable tool for producers. A more detailed cost comparison between wire fences and virtual fences will be made in a future article. Virtual fences may increase management flexibility by providing the ability to rapidly change grazing patterns, which may have implications for animal management and welfare, sustainability, economics, adaptive management, and rangeland ecology. Before adopting virtual fence systems, consider the tradeoffs between permanent wire fences and virtual fences. Wire fences may entrap animals, can be easily damaged by fire or vandalism, require periodic maintenance, and are less flexible as a management tool. Virtual fence has high upfront cost, and likely does not work for all ranches or for all individuals in a herd, but are more flexible as a management tool. Some animals may develop strategies for pushing through the virtual fence. While physical fencing is still needed today, VF as a precision livestock management technology may help reduce the reliance on permanent wire fences while increasing management flexibility to respond to a changing landscape.
Development of Virtual Fencing Technology
Further research and development work is underway to improve virtual pasture fencing technology by expanding the ability to monitor daily activity and animal health to reduce the costs of manufacturing and using complete systems. In addition, it is worth noting that the systems described earlier are in the early stages of research and development without any support facilities. Taking into account the above limitations, which prevent the application of this type of technology on farms in our country, the Department of Grassland and Natural Landscape Sciences of the Poznan University of Life Sciences launched a project entitled “Sourcing top-quality culinary beef based on pasture feeding of cattle controlled by IoT system” (acronym: ProEcoFarm) co-financed under the 2014–2020 Rural Development Program. The project’s main objective is to produce top-quality culinary beef based on a model of farming suckler cows in a pasture-based feeding system on extensive grasslands located in high nature value areas using an Internet of Things (IoT) system. The issue addressed by the project is particularly important from the point of view of cattle grazing in high nature value areas, where it is often impossible to build conventional fences and constantly monitor the daily activity of animals. Furthermore, remote control of the cattle herd using collar-mounted devices will also make it possible to exclude areas with protected plant or animal species from grazing without building physical barriers. The benefits of directing grazing animals to appropriate landscape niches are also highlighted by Stevens et al. and Greenwood . The R&D efforts aim to develop a much cheaper but equally innovative system for determining virtual fencing and grazing paddocks for suckler cows of various beef breeds and calves. It is worth noting that an essential part of the technological innovation is determining grazing areas according to the cattle’s feeding group classification. In addition, the developed technology will allow changes to the grazing area of individual animals at any time using a mobile app facilitating herd management and improving the efficiency of grazing sward use.
Components of Virtual Fencing
Virtual fencing (VF) is a management tool that uses invisible barriers, established using Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates, that influence livestock movement with a combination of auditory and electrical cues. The primary elements of a VF system are a software interface, collars worn by livestock, and a radio or cellular based system that allows the software and collars to communicate. A smartphone, tablet, or computer software interface is used to digitally draw virtual fence lines on an image of the landscape using satellite imagery or a topographic map. Each virtual fence drawn includes a boundary zone: a defined amount of space that extends out from where the virtual fence line is drawn on the map and acts as a buffer to alert livestock when they are approaching a virtual fence. Just like with a traditional wire fence, the area enclosed by the virtual fence boundary is the grazing area and is intended for use by livestock. The area outside the virtual fence boundary which is not intended for use by livestock is the exclusion zone. Using the VF software, users may remotely activate or deactivate virtual fences according to a predetermined schedule or as needed. It takes approximately ten minutes to create a virtual fence. Virtual fence collars are electronic devices fitted around the circumference of an animals’ neck. Collars contain technology for transmitting and receiving GPS and radio or cellular signals to track livestock movement and position relative to virtual fences. Depending on the manufacturer, collars are powered by batteries that are either non rechargeable and must be changed, or are solar rechargeable. Each collar’s on-board GPS determines the animal’s location in relation to the boundary zone (Figure 2a). Virtual fencing uses negative reinforcement to build, modify, and maintain an association between the auditory cue and electrical cue. For more information, see Rangelands Gateway (ht t p s:// rangelandsgateway.org/virtual-fence). When animals are within the grazing area, no auditory or electrical cues are activated. When an animal enters the boundary zone, the collar first emits an auditory cue, or a high-pitched beeping sound that warns the animal of virtual fence proximity (Figure 2b). If the animal continues through the boundary zone, the collar will emit both an auditory cue and an electrical cue, or slight electrical pulse (Figure 2c). In most cases, the animal will turn around and exit the boundary zone in response to cues (Figure 2d). Both cues stop if the animal enters the exclusion zone. When an animal breaches a virtual fence into the exclusion zone, the virtual fence acts as a “one-way gate” where the animal can return into the grazing area without receiving auditory or electrical cues, but will receive auditory and electrical cues if it attempts to leave the virtual fence again. Over a training period specified by the manufacturer, livestock will learn to associate the auditory cue with the electrical cue and generally stay within the confines of the grazing area in response to only the auditory cue. In some cases, individuals may respond differently to the auditory and electrical cues and may develop strategies for pushing through the virtual fence. To reduce the impacts of stress on the animals, this association should be predictable and controllable to livestock. For more information on the effects of auditory and electrical cues on livestock, see Mayer et al. (in review). The VF software communicates boundary zone information to collars. Depending on the manufacturer, data is transmitted and received via cellular towers or solar-powered base stations, which are physical structures on the landscape that act as a transmitter and receiver using radio, cellular networks, and/or satellites. There is a lag between when a virtual fence is programmed in the software and when the collars receive the programming. The programming generally takes between one hour and up to three days, but the exact timing is dependent on the size of the herd, location of a specific animal, and landscape topography. All collars must be within range of the cellular tower or base station to receive the updated programming. If a collar is out of range, the updated programming will not be issued until the animal moves back within range. Therefore, virtual fences cannot be activated or deactivated instantaneously to immediately manage livestock. A base station is ideally placed in a location where there is both reliable cellular service and where it can provide the maximum amount of VF coverage to ensure communication between the software and the collars. Multiple base stations may be needed to provide adequate coverage. Base station coverage varies widely depending on terrain and typically covers more area if the base station is located at a higher elevation than the pasture or allotment. If the base station is positioned without considering the landscape topography, the coverage can be impacted by a mountain or other elevation change and may result in no signal on the far side of a peak or depression (Figure 3). Base station coverage maps are an essential tool for successful implementation of a VF system. Coverage maps can be developed in conjunction with a VF manufacturer or with an ESRI ArcGIS Pro tool developed by the University of Arizona (McMullen and Antaya 2023)
How does virtual fencing work?
Virtual fencing uses GPS technology and smart collars to manage livestock without physical barriers. Each animal wears a collar equipped with GPS and sometimes other sensors. These collars communicate with a central system that defines virtual boundaries on a digital map.
When an animal approaches or crosses the boundary, the collar emits a series of cues. Initially, these are typically audio signals, like beeps, to alert the animal. If the animal continues toward the boundary, a mild electric pulse, similar to a static shock, is delivered to deter the animal.
Dairy Australia and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) are two research organisations that are assessing the practical use of virtual fencing on farms across Australia’s livestock industries, including beef, dairy, sheep and pork. Research by AWI is exploring the effectiveness and cost of managing cattle and sheep grazing on crops, pasture, and fallow land using GPS-based virtual fencing.
In the United States neck collars are proving popular and are readily available, with companies Vence, eSheperd, Corral Technologies and Nofence offering innovative cattle virtual fencing options for ranchers. While dairy farms in New Zealand are seeing benefits of the solar powered Halter collars, with one farmer estimating they saved 1000 hours of travel a year by reducing time spent on motorbikes to move the herd.
How does virtual fence work?
- Animals managed via pressure applied by the collar based on location.
- • When animal first approaches a boundary a sound warning is applied.
- • If animal continue to encroach, a sound plus aversive stimulus is applied.
- • Animals are trained to turn away from the collar pressure and return to the herd.
- • Virtual fence line is a “one-way gate” animals receive pressure leaving the inclusion zone but receives no pressure when returning.
- • When animal returns to the inclusion zone the virtual fence turns back on.
Adapting to a changing climate
Because virtual fencing can help rangeland managers become more adaptive to variable conditions, it could help managers to adapt to the variable impacts of climate change. Virtual fencing can be used to contain animals within a desired area, exclude them from undesired areas, or move them across the landscape without the need for physical fences. For example, as wildfire frequency and size increase in the Great Basin due to climate change and the spread of invasive annual grasses, it is likely that more traditional fences will burn, or areas within traditional fencing units will burn. Virtual fencing could allow ranchers and rangeland managers to reestablish boundaries more quickly for livestock in post-fire environments, or to keep livestock away from recently burned areas.
Virtual fencing also has the potential to improve soil and water quality through making managed grazing more accessible as a practice. Managed grazing is careful management of livestock density and the timing and intensity of grazing. It can stimulate plant regrowth and add manure to the soil. While ranchers with traditional fences can also practice managed grazing, it requires much more planning and labor, and animal movements are limited to pastures defined by permanent fence boundaries. Virtual fencing allows managers to frequently and efficiently move livestock from one pasture to the next and to define new within-pasture boundaries.
Benefits:
- Allows ranchers to change the locations of livestock grazing, both between and within years
- Allows ranchers to move livestock with reduced labor inputs
- Can be used in areas that are difficult to fence
- Eliminates wildlife conflicts with traditional wire fencing
- Can exclude cattle from areas of management concern, including burned sagebrush steppe
- Can prevent overgrazing
- Can limit undesired effects of grazing in riparian areas
What are the benefits and challenges of virtual fencing?
By eliminating the need for time consuming setup and maintenance of physical fences, virtual fencing can offer producers additional benefits for livestock management:
Flexibility
Unlike traditional static fences, virtual fences offer farmers flexibility. Through software platforms, farmers can quickly and easily adjust grazing areas, respond to changing conditions, and manage land more effectively.
Potential cost-savings
Virtual fencing eliminates the need for expensive materials and labour associated with physical fences, reducing long-term operational costs. In 2023, New Zealand based company Halter set up virtual fencing for cattle in Tasmania for $8.50 per month, per cow. Virtual fencing can be viable, but farmers need to consider budget and operational needs to determine if it is economically beneficial.
Improved environmental outcomes
Virtual fencing can prevent overgrazing, ensuring the sustained health of natural vegetation and soil, as well as wildlife habitat preservation, as it removes the need for land clearing to make way for fences. Virtual fencing is also seen as a valuable tool for farmers as they adjust livestock management in response to unpredictable shifts in climate conditions.
While virtual fencing offers benefits to farmers, there are challenges associated with animal welfare, particularly the use of electric shock collars. Regulations vary across Australian states and territories regarding use of these collars. For instance, in NSW, VIC, ACT and SA, the use of electric shock collars on livestock is either banned or highly restricted.
However, companies like eShepherd and Nofence claim that their technology is far more advanced than the primitive shock collars used to train dogs. They argue that regulations should soon reflect these advancements, allowing their technology to be adopted Australia-wide.
Challenges:
- Involves collar installation
- Relies on functional technology
- Has a high upfront cost of implementation
Virtual fencing has proven effective in excluding cattle from riparian areas, areas of management concern, recently burned areas, and areas with regenerating saplings. Virtual fencing has also been found effective in encouraging cattle to graze on undesired/invasive species. In Alaska, virtual fencing is being tested for increasing the efficacy of reindeer reintroduction on the Seward Peninsula. Additional research is needed to evaluate virtual fencing technology in larger rangeland settings, particularly to understand if ease of use changes with scale, since animals interact with larger perimeters less often.
Precision livestock farming is increasingly being used in pasture feeding systems. Especially the evolving virtual fencing designed for grazing dairy and beef cattle opens up new opportunities for using available pasture land. Virtual fencing has the potential to reduce the amount of labor required for fencing, increase the flexibility of fencing to adapt to changing pasture conditions, improve precision and efficiency, and provide more options for grazing management. However, this innovative technology should be further developed, and improvements should include decreasing the total costs of the system and increasing its application to other technological groups of ruminants, e.g., suckler cows with calves, increasing the efficiency of the system operation in large areas and a larger number of animals. Currently, research is being carried out on the response of various cattle breeds to the use of virtual fencing technology, as well as studies on the effectiveness of grazing management using virtual fencing in high nature value areas. Recent advancements in electronic communication and device design have the potential to significantly improve the effectiveness of virtual fencing technology while lowering costs. However, further evaluation is needed to determine their usefulness in precision agriculture systems.
Compiled & Shared by-Team LITD
source-To be shared on request.
