We're sorry. An error has occurred
Please cancel or retry.
Virtual fencing and herding to manage grazing cattle
Some error occured while loading the Quick View. Please close the Quick View and try reloading the page.
Couldn't load pickup availability
- Format:
-
23 October 2026
Virtual fencing (VF) and herding (VH) technologies are revolutionising the management of grazing cattle. These technologies use GPS-enabled collars to manage and contain cattle primarily with audio or vibration cues to guide behaviour, followed by electric shocks if the primary cues are ignored. This reduces the need for electric or physical fencing and decreases the labour required to move animals. This chapter reviews the development, application, and welfare implications of VF and VH technologies. Research and commercial experience demonstrate the effectiveness of the technology, with benefits including improved pasture utilisation, animal productivity, environmental stewardship, labour efficiency and workforce satisfaction. New technologies must also demonstrate that they at least preserve, if not improve, animal welfare. VF technologies must also include proper training regimes based on learning theory, safeguards to prevent the receipt of unpredictable or uncontrollable shocks and be of an appropriate ergonomic design.
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Summary of commercially available virtual fencing technologies
- 3 Training and adapting cattle to virtual fencing
- 4 Animal welfare under virtual fencing and herding management
- 5 Future directions
- 6 Conclusion
- 7 Where to look for further information
- 8 References