Future of Grazing is Virtual and Mobile
As virtual fencing and collar technology gain momentum in the grazing world, a new era of pasture management is taking shape—and a Shade Haven mobile shade system is the perfect pairing for this evolution in grazing. Greg Brickner, DVM, Director of Precision Grazing at the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship, sees virtual fencing not just as a labor-saving tool, […]
As virtual fencing and collar technology gain momentum in the grazing world, a new era of pasture management is taking shape—and a Shade Haven mobile shade system is the perfect pairing for this evolution in grazing.
Greg Brickner, DVM, Director of Precision Grazing at the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship, sees virtual fencing not just as a labor-saving tool, but as a revolution in how we manage livestock and pasture.
“Virtual collars allow multiple small moves throughout the day without the physical work of moving polywire,” says Brickner, who has been grazing livestock since 1987. “Even the person with a day job can now graze like somebody who is devoting their entire life to moving fences and livestock.”
How it works
Virtual fencing uses GPS-enabled collars that allow graziers to set boundaries and alter grazing patterns using special software. Like the virtual dog collar technology used widely today, the collars that are specially fitted for beef, dairy or sheep direct the animals with warning beeps, vibrations, and electric pulses.
Farmers and ranchers can track their herd’s movement in real time and will get alerted if an animal has crossed the boundary – all from an app on their cell phone.
While the technology is still emerging in the U.S., companies like Halter, Nofence, Vence and eShepherd are leading development. Currently only two companies, Halter from New Zealand and Monil from Norway, offer a dairy-quality virtual collar.
One U.S. dairy farm – Delta Dairy in Louisiana –uses the Halter collars to manage 500 dairy cattle. “I’ve talked to that farmer several times. The collars are working the way they are supposed to,” notes Brickner. “They use the collars to gather cows in the morning, so they are waiting at the parlor at 5 or 6 a.m. when the milkers arrive. And it helps to train the cattle to move.”
Automated Movement Needs Shade
The frequent and targeted automated movements with virtual collars increase pasture utilization, dry matter intake, and animal productivity. But there’s one challenge: heat.
“We need to have shade available for animals to help them cope with heat,” Brickner stresses. “Virtual collars offer all kinds of opportunities for improved management but some of that could be compromised if animals need to come back to buildings or a fence line for shade. With a Shade Haven moving right along with them, they’ve always got shade, and we are taking advantage of the collars even in hot weather.”
As Shade Haven moves closer to automated self-moving capabilities the mobile shade system becomes an even more integral companion to virtual collars. “While automated would be nice, you don’t need to move the Shade Haven six times a day. As long as animals can come back to it, you wouldn’t be compromising the pasture health if you moved it once a day.”
As dairy, beef, and even sheep and goat producers begin to adopt this technology, Brickner predicts rapid expansion of the virtual collars over the next few years. The biggest hurdle? Not cost, but availability and technical support.
“The technology does pay for itself pretty quickly. With cattle, it’s going to be easier just because they will need fewer collars. Some goat farms have several hundred goats,” notes Brickner.
For small to midsize producers, virtual fencing paired with mobile shade offers a powerful formula: better grazing, healthier animals, and reduced labor—all without permanent fencing. “I think once farmers see other farmers using the virtual fencing and collars, adoption will happen quickly,” says Brickner.
