Virtual fencing
Wire fences are labor intensive (e.g. strip grazing), need frequent maintenance and hinder efficient grazing with overgrazing. A virtual fence may solve these problems. The investment cost may be recovered by more efficient grazing with higher production results and the loss of labor and maintenance costs of wire fences.
With an app, you can draw the virtual fence. A GPS collar determines the location and activity of the animal and forwards the data to the app. Within 1,5 m of the virtual fence, the cow gets a sound signal. Should the cow proceed anyway, then she reaches a virtual electric fence. This technique may be used for rotational or strip grazing and excluding cattle from riparian zones or areas prone to erosion. Most animals learn within 24-48 hours how the virtual fence works. Other positive features are that you have the real-live location of the animals and you can monitor the activity of the animals (e.g. detection of heat or illness). It can also be used to muster by making the boundaries smaller and smaller. However, Sometimes the collar can be twisted whereby the animal doesn’t feel the shock when reaching the virtual fence. In addition, some individuals don’t approach the boundary as often and hence, so it takes longer to learn how the virtual fence work. Animals that do not learn have to be removed for animal welfare reasons. Some specific advises: check if virtual fencing is allowed in your country. The technique is evolving very fast. Leasing of the product is an option to keep up with the evolution of the technology.
Resilience for Dairy
Completed | 2021-2024
- Main funding source
- Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Spain, Slovenia, Netherlands, Northern Ireland