> I'm doing a commercialization
> assessment on a technology
> developed and patented by the
> USDA, called the virtual fence.
> Perhaps you've heard of it. It
> uses ear tags to give an audible
> cue to cattle (and possibly other
> animals) to get an animal to move
> in a desired location. If the
> audible cue doesn't work it is
> followed by mild electric shocks
> (up to three) to try to train the
> animal to respond to the audible
> cue. The idea is to use the
> technology to remotely cue the
> animals to move to another grazing
> location, and to control stock
> density. My job is to see what
> prospective users think of such
> technology. Do you think cattle
> can be trained to respond to
> audible cues? It seems
> particularly suited for controlled
> grazing, and yet I'm not clear on
> just how widespread that is being
> used. Any ideas? The USDA has info
> on the technology at
> <A HREF="http://www.macaulay.ac.uk/gps/gps_abstract_2001.pdf" TARGET="_blank">http://www.macaulay.ac.uk/gps/gps_abstract_2001.pdf</A>
> ,
> <A HREF="http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/srchnum.htm" TARGET="_blank">http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/srchnum.htm</A>
> , and
> <A HREF="http://www.geospatial-online.com/geospatialsolutions/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=65014&pageID=2" TARGET="_blank">http://www.geospatial-online.com/geospatialsolutions/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=65014&pageID=2</A>
> . I'd appreciate any thoughts you
> might have. Thanks!
This is my first attempt at using an on-line discussion technique! I am one of the co-inventors of the Directional Virtual Fence (DVF TM) project which Lisa posted to begin this discussion. I have read all the responses to her original post and the questions are all excellent. The only one we have not addressed ourselves is the question of "deep canyons and their affect on GPS". However, I have been in contact with colleagues who have used GPS in VERY steep canyons and they have been successful. The improvements in GPS technology are remarkable and seem to change almost daily ... all for the better.
The web sites Lisa listed will hopefully answer many of your questions, however, if you have specific questions I would welcome an e-mail <A HREF="mailto
[email protected]">(
[email protected]</A>) and we can discuss your particular question at your convenience.
The one point that must be understood with any virtual fencing is that it relies 100% on animal behavior, therefore it should NEVER be used where the health or safety of either man or animals is in question. Having said this it is not an option for perimeter fencing and I do not see it EVER to be an option for conventional fencing of perimeters, especially along traffic right-of-ways or between neighbors! However, it is my opinion that for internal fencing such as that used in rotational strategies or to fence (in or out) riparian areas along streams that run through your property, and require management, it could be considered as an alternative management tool. Since animal distribution remains the second biggest challenge to managing free-ranging animals once stocking rate is correctly determined and applied this methodology allows a way to manipulate where animals are in real time.
Our system moves both in space and time without ANYTHING on the ground except what the animal is wearing. Furthermore, it is my opinion that within the next few years we will not have to house the cuing device in an ear tag and so the concern about "losing control" because the ear tag was lost will no longer be a concern. The one concern will be power requirements to keep the electronics powered under "field conditions" and this will be the most challenging area for this type of technology for the forseeable future. Flexible solar cells and plastic battery technology are two "bright" spots on the "power" horizon that are currently being investigated.
To date our tests do not show that "memory" prevents animals from moving over a location where the "fence" may have been yesterday. There is nothing for the animal to initially "see" as with an electric fence and because we can move the fence at any rate the manager desires the animal must cue on the cue and not associate the cue with an object(s) on the landscape. Remember that even for a "static" DVF the +/- 15 to 20 meter accuracy of non corrected GPS signal helps to keep the animal from knowing exactly where the fence is on the landscape in contrast to an electric fence which does not move at all! We only move the animals with the device when the animal itself is moving (foraging or walking). This methodology focuses on low stress animal handlilng. Yes, you could send cues to get an animal to make it get up and move when it is resting but in my opinion this is NOT how the system should be used to give optimum results.
Hope to hear from those of you who have questions the web sites or my comments above have not addressed.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Dean
[email protected]
