Virtual Fencing Shines in Rugged Terrain

One of the biggest challenges in running cattle on rugged terrain is maintaining traditional fencing. The ongoing need for repairs, regular inspections, and costly materials can quickly drain a rancher’s time, energy, and finances. A promising new solution to this long-standing issue is virtual fencing, a technology similar in concept to shock collars used for dogs, but specifically designed for cattle. Jake Winona, a first-generation rancher from Prescott, and his wife, Sarah Winona, a fifth generation rancher, decided to give these collars a chance and have been pleasantly surprised by the results they’ve found. Jake was frustrated with the fencing on his summer pastures and had some friends who got into virtual fencing, so he decided to follow their lead. This will be Jake’s third season using the collars, and he believes it has been their best season with them yet. Jake uses collars from the company, Vence, which is one of the only virtual fencing technologies approved for use in the United States. The Vence system uses a mixture of radio, cellular, and satellite signals to control it. The cattlemen purchase collars for the cows that consist of a receiver connected by two chains. Chain links are added or subtracted from the chain to adjust to each cow. Each cattleman also purchases two base towers that receive signals from the Vence program and send them to the collars. You create a virtual fenceline on your computer, which sends a cell signal to a base tower that uses radio signals to program the collars. The collars them selves are monitored by GPS signals from satellites, and each cow can be seen on a virtual map. When a cow approaches the virtual fenceline, a signal is sent from the base tower to the receiver on the collar, and a series of audio alerts is given in warning. As the cow crosses the virtual fenceline, a small shock is sent through the chains on the collar. As soon as the cow turns around and heads back towards the fenceline, the shocks stop. Jake says the system works well once the cattle are trained to it. The training only takes 3-4 days, with most cattle catching on quickly and respecting the boundary signals. However, to ensure the herd remains under control, Jake takes notes on the cattle that often push the boundaries. The cattle with the most notes get put on the naughty list and are culled before the next season. Jake commented that out of 300 head, only 5 or 6 needed to be culled due to this issue in his last season. The collars are projected to have a 6-9 month battery life, but Jake only uses them on his cattle for a few months each year, removing the collars with the change of the seasons and replacing the batteries before putting the collars back on. When asked why the technology was slow to take off, Jake responded that the upfront cost can be very intimidating, and the hassle of learning the program scares people away. All new technology requires time to learn how to effectively manage and implement, which people are wary of doing. But for him, the technology has been a great help. Managing and monitoring his herd is easier as he can see each cow virtually. He can utilize the land more efficiently and implement regenerative grazing to enhance soil health and fertility. Not to mention, he has saved a lot of time and money now that he no longer has to deal with traditional fencing. As with any technology, the program has its flaws. Some cattle simply learn to run through the shocks from the collar, and occasionally the collars will fall off and get left behind. Programming the collars can sometimes be difficult if the cattle are in draws or ravines where the signal can’t reach, resulting in some collars receiving the signal and programming, and some not. These problems have the potential to be fixed as the technology is further developed and used. On the whole, virtual fencing represents a promising advancement for cattlemen trying to navigate the challenges of running cattle on rugged terrain. This new technology offers a practical and efficient alternative to traditional fencing. It reduces labor demands, lowers long-term costs, and enables better land management through regenerative grazing practices. Though the technology has been slow to grow, likely due to the initial investment and learning required, the long-term benefits seem to be slowly winning ranchers over.