In ranching, traditional fencing requires significant labor and financial investment to install and maintain. Physical fences are rigid and can limit the ability to adapt grazing patterns to changing environmental conditions. Physical fences can also fragment habitats and pose risks to wildlife.
Virtual fencing can be a valuable tool for land managers in reducing wildfire risks and managing grazing more effectively.
Oregon State University, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), has been conducting innovative research on virtual fencing, particularly in the context of managing cattle grazing to create wildfire fuel breaks. Fuel breaks reduce the prevalence of nonnative grasses that contribute to wildfire fuel. This is particularly important in areas prone to wildfires.
Virtual fencing works by using GPS-enabled collars placed on livestock, which communicate with a network of reception towers to establish virtual boundaries. When animals approach these boundaries, they receive auditory cues from the collars. If they continue to move closer, a benign electric pulse is administered to encourage them to stay within the designated area.
The primary goal of this research is to manage grazing patterns to reduce wildfire risks by creating fuel breaks in sagebrush rangelands. Virtual fencing also allows for more precise control over grazing patterns, helping to prevent overgrazing and promoting better rangeland health.
The Oregon State University Extension Service has been working with local communities, such as in Wallowa County, to test and demonstrate the benefits of virtual fencing in various settings. This outreach effort aims to provide ranchers and land managers with the tools and knowledge they need to implement this technology effectively.
The research has shown promising results in managing cattle grazing to create wildfire fuel breaks. Here are some key findings:
- Effective fuel breaks: A study demonstrated that virtual fencing could effectively create fuel breaks by controlling cattle grazing patterns. This helps reduce the prevalence of nonnative grasses that contribute to wildfire fuel.
- Exclusion of cattle from burned areas: Another study found that virtual fencing effectively excluded cattle from burned sagebrush steppe areas. Cattle fitted with GPS collars spent significantly less time in burned areas compared to those without virtual fencing, leading to reduced forage utilization in these sensitive zones.
- Cost and logistical benefits: Virtual fencing offers a less expensive and logistically simpler alternative to traditional fencing. This technology allows for more flexible and precise management of grazing patterns, which is particularly beneficial in large and remote rangeland settings.
These results suggest that virtual fencing can be a valuable tool for land managers in reducing wildfire risks and managing grazing more effectively. Virtual fencing offers a modern, efficient and environmentally friendly approach to cattle ranching.
OSU faculty at the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center helped host and put on a Virtual Fence Workshop at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario on January 29. This hybrid workshop was well-attended with over 75 participants onsite and an additional 75 online. Participants learned about virtual fencing technology and current research.
The highlight of the event was the producer/agency/stakeholder panels of early adopters of the technology which allowed all in attendance to hear their thoughts and participate in discussions on virtual fencing opportunities, challenges and successes.
