What is Virtual Fencing?
Virtual fencing (VF) is a precision agriculture tool gaining traction across California’s diverse rangelands. It uses GPS collars to contain livestock without physical fences. Producers set virtual boundaries across their pasture from a computer, which are transmitted to the collars via cellular signal. When an animal approaches the boundary, the collar emits audio cues and, if needed, mild electric pulses to keep the animal within the boundary.
While VF is designed to contain livestock independent of physical fencing, it is not intended to replace secure perimeter fencing where 100% containment is necessary, like along busy roads. Instead, VF operates best as a highly adaptable cross-fence that can position animals across a landscape with more intention and precision than traditional fencing. VF can be adjusted in minutes to meet the changing needs of livestock producers and range conservationists alike.
- Real-time livestock location tracking
- Automated rotational grazing
- Targeted grazing to control palatable invasive weeds
- Installing fuel breaks to reduce wildfire risk
- Excluding livestock from sensitive areas
University of California Research
The University of California Cooperative Extension Central Sierra is working to understand the applications of VF on California rangelands with grant funding through the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Technical Assistance: Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) Cooperative Agreements. The UCCE does not endorse any single VF product.
Please click on the links below to learn more about our research trials and findings.
- VF on Forested Rangeland
- Targeted Grazing Medusahead for Rangeland Improvement
- Grazing Fuel Breaks In The Wildland Urban Interface
- Targeted Grazing Deer Brush for Fuel Suppression
Questions?
Please contact Brian Allen (brallen@ucanr.edu)