Foundations of Virtual Fencing: Exploring the Complexities and Challenges

Across the Western United States, ranchers and land managers rely on thousands of miles of physical wire fencing to manage livestock on extensive rangelands and pastoral systems (Hayter, 1939; Netz, 2004). This type of fence has improved rangeland conditions in many places by allowing the implementation of various grazing systems (Holechek et al., 2011). However, wire fencing can fragment landscape connectivity, pose risks to wildlife, require significant financial investment, and offer little flexibility to implement adaptive management strategies (e.g., adjust pasture size, manipulate grazing distribution, limit potential for over-use, avoid sensitive habitat) within a given pasture (Jakes et al., 2018). As a result, there are management constraints when using physical fences in adaptive management systems.

The complexities and challenges of VF are important to consider before relying on them for livestock and rangeland management. Special consideration is needed when training livestock, designing fences, managing incentives (e.g., water, nursing calves, etc.), and gathering livestock. In this factsheet, we review the general aspects of each of these topics.