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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #159730
Title: DIRECTIONAL VIRTUAL FENCING [DVF (TRADEMARK)]

Author
item Anderson, Dean
item PRICE, M - UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
item Frederickson, Eddie
item NOLEN, BARBARA - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV
item HALE, CRAIG - FUTURE SEGUE
item Havstad, Kris

Submitted to: Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2003
Publication Date: 1/25/2004
Citation: ANDERSON, D.M., PRICE, M.A., FREDRICKSON, E.L., NOLEN, B., HALE, C.S., HAVSTAD, K.M. DIRECTIONAL VIRTUAL FENCING [DVF (TRADEMARK)]. 57TH ANNUAL MEETING, SOCIETY FOR RANGE MANAGEMENT. 2004. ABSTRACT NO. 6.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Previous methods for promoting uniform spatial distribution of animals across a landscape have produced mixed results, yet none provide opportunities for real-time management. With Directional Virtual Fencing (DVF)(TM) prescriptive real-time animal management is imminent. The animal-mounted DVF(TM) device combines Global Positioning System (GPS) technology with electro-mechanically produced cues controlled by proprietary algorithms in the device's Central Processing Unit (CPU) to control animals in real time. The GPS component in the DVF(TM) device gives animal position on the landscape, while a Geographic Information System (GIS) allows preprogrammed, latitude-longitude pairs to define a Virtual Center Line (VCL)(TM) inside a Virtual Boundary (VB)(TM)). If the VB(TM) is penetrated by an instrumented animal, the direction of its head with respect to the VCL(TM) determines to which side of the animal the independently programmable, left and right side cues will be delivered to elicit the shortest turning direction for movement away from the VCL(TM) with the least cuing stress. Cue intensity is ramped from low at the VB(TM) perimeter to high at the VCL(TM). Should the animal fail to respond appropriately, cuing can be programmed to stop. Cow heart rate is elevated during cuing; however, the increase is only transitory as evidenced by animals quickly returning to graze in the opposite direction following cuing. Preliminary data from a small herd (n = 6) suggests not every animal in a group will need to wear a DVF(TM) device if the goal is to control the group's distribution across a landscape.