Virtual fencing the new frontier for grazing management?  

Electric fence systems or even barbed wire were once considered innovations in grazing management. Within the past few years, virtual fencing companies have become prominent and their products could be a fit for many operations across the High Plains.  

With any new technology, experts say there’s always a question of suitability for an operation. Will it save time or money? Can management be done more efficiently? What about expense? How hard is the system to learn or operate?  

Mitch Stevenson, associate director of the University of Nebraska, Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff, studies grazing and low stress herding. He said in a Kansas State University webinar recently what his research has found when it comes to virtual fencing. 

“It works very well in influencing the timing, the frequency and the intensity of grazing,” he said. “You can be really flexible and use a lot of creativity.” 

Producers are able to visualize and change the distribution for different grazing pressures in real time and hone in on targeted grazing or non-grazing of certain areas. This can be done in pastures “very, very easily and very quickly,” he said. 

Virtual fencing systems, for Stevenson, are a “really kind of neat way to manage.” But it’s important to remember that when using collars and virtual fences, there are considerations.  

Batteries are an example if that is the type of system chosen and maintenance protocol has to be followed, he said. 

Producers also need a good chute to hold the animals when putting collars on. Once turned out, managers need to make sure the collars stay on and operational. Initially, some of these systems had problems with batteries and collars staying in place.  

“That’s pretty minimal now, but there have been situations where the attachments just didn’t work as well, and a lot of them fell off,” he said. “So, it is something to consider that you might lose some and having a good perimeter fence is probably important, especially if you can’t afford to have a cow get on a road.” 

Battery life is important depending on how long the cattle stay in a certain area—particularly if the area is remote.  

Training and working with the cattle is important, too. In Stevenson’s experience with a group of cows out on corn stalks they will start pushing the boundaries after a week, but will adjust.  

“They’ve all seemed to really buy into it really well and are really sticking where they’re supposed to be sticking,” he said. 

Cost is another big sticking point for some, and rightfully so should be considered. 

“When we think about technology and some of these tools, we have to think, will it make my life easier, and will it make the ranch more profitable?” he said. “Those are definite things to consider. I think there are definitely ways that it can make life easier, especially some of our management.” 

Virtual fencing may not be the best fit for every rancher, Stevenson said, and it might be better for someone whose time is limited. Also, availability of workers is another consideration.  

Another question is will it help make your ranch more profitable?  

“That’s where you really need to crunch those numbers,” Stevenson said. “Every situation is going to be a little bit different. You have to weigh those cost benefits.” 

Overall, he believes virtual fencing is a tool to consider for a grazing management program, but it won’t replace a skilled manager. 

It’s important to make sure animal husbandry practices are still followed.  

“Making sure we’re taking care of our animals and being out there, not relying too much on virtual fence collars,” he said, adding ranchers need to continue to use good grazing management practices. 

Stevenson said in the United States, “we’re still in relatively early stages in the commercial scale of weighing those cost benefits,” of virtual fencing systems and so far research supports their usage. 

Kylene Scott can be reached at 620-227-1804 or [email protected].