22 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN September 2024 Breaking Boundaries Exploring the Use of Virtual Fencing on the Ranch JESSICA WESSON | CONTRIBUTING WRITER On average, it costs $1,235 to fence one acre of land. With rising labor and material costs, producers have begun turning to other options to solve their fencing challenges. Virtual fencing has climbed in popularity over the past decade, and producers around the country are starting to take notice. What Is Virtual Fencing? How Does It Work? “Virtual fencing creates invisible boundaries to contain our cattle,” says Yijie Xiong, professor and Extension specialist in precision livestock management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “It’s similar to the invisible dog fences that many people are familiar with.” Mitch Stephenson, range management specialist at the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center, explains that most virtual fencing software relies on GPS tracking. “The animals wear collars that have GPS capabilities to track where they are,” Stephenson says. “You can program where their boundaries are from your phone or tablet to manipulate where they’re grazing. Most virtual fencing models will use an audio cue to warn animals when they get too close to the boundary, and then they’ll use an electrical cue as a deterrent not to go past the boundary.” According to Xiong, the concept of virtual fencing has existed for more than 20 years and was initially designed and demonstrated in Europe. “It was created to manage cattle without an extensive fencing system,” Xiong says. Benefits of Virtual Fencing Virtual fencing can solve producers’ challenges, including cost and time. “Virtual fencing was originally developed to save labor and time,” Xiong says. “Investing in fencing can also be costly, sometimes reaching tens of thousands of dollars. It can be even more time-consuming and expensive if the producer wants to subdivide within pastures.” Producers will be able to strategically graze their cattle more easily. “They can move their cattle to focus on ungrazed areas of their land,” Xiong says. “They can also easily set up virtual PRODUCTION CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 Photos courtesy of Travis Mulliniks
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