Virtual Fencing Technology for Cattle Management in the Pasture Feeding System—A Review

Piotr Goliński (), Patrycja Sobolewska, Barbara Stefańska and Barbara Golińska
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Piotr Goliński: Department of Grassland and Natural Landscape Sciences, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Dojazd 11, 60-632 Poznań, Poland
Patrycja Sobolewska: Department of Grassland and Natural Landscape Sciences, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Dojazd 11, 60-632 Poznań, Poland
Barbara Stefańska: Department of Grassland and Natural Landscape Sciences, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Dojazd 11, 60-632 Poznań, Poland
Barbara Golińska: Department of Grassland and Natural Landscape Sciences, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Dojazd 11, 60-632 Poznań, Poland

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Maximizing annual pasture consumption without negatively impacting individual cow performance is of great importance in grass-based dairy and beef systems due to pasture being the most cost-effective nutrient source. However, the disadvantages of conventional and electric fencing include material and labor costs and increased manual labor. Virtual fencing has been developed and evaluated for almost two decades. The evolution of precision livestock farming, specifically virtual fencing, presents new opportunities for maximizing the utilization of available pasture land. Virtual fencing technology decreases the labor involved in physical fencing, provides greater adaptability to changes in pasture conditions, increases precision and efficiency, and offers additional flexibility in grazing management practices. However, that innovative technology should be further developed, and improvements should include decreasing the total costs of the system and increasing its application to other technological groups of ruminants, e.g., suckler cows with calves, increasing the efficiency of the system operation in large areas and a larger number of animals. Recent advancements in electronic communication and device (i.e., collar) design hold the potential to significantly enhance the effectiveness of the technology while also reducing costs. However, it is necessary to conduct a further evaluation to determine their utility in precision agricultural systems. This review paper aims to present an innovative concept of virtual fencing technology for pastures, compare currently available systems of this type, and indicate areas where further research and development should be carried out using Internet of Things (IoT) systems.

Keywords: cattle; grazing; herd management; pasture; virtual fencing technology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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