Virtual Fence
Frequently Asked Questions
Photo credit: Michael Stauder
Basics
What are some common issues with a VF system?
While virtual fence can provide a lot of benefits, there can also be many challenges including collars falling off livestock, needing to learn to use VF software, and radio or cellular connectivity issues. Please review factsheets, webinars, and other resources on the Virtual Fence User Guide to learn more about these challenges and how to navigate them. This video includes a producer panel discussing the challenges and opportunities associated with a VF system.
What is the minimum and maximum pasture and herd size for each of the VF companies?
This basic comparison can help you select the most appropriate VF vendor based on pasture size, herd size, and other characteristics of your operation. For a more thorough comparison, watch this webinar with a presentation comparing VF manufacturers. To our knowledge, as of August 18, 2024, Corral Technologies has gone out of business.
What companies are available in the US?
As of October 2024, there are four VF vendors available in the US: eShepherd™ from Gallagher™, Halter™, Nofence™, and Vence™ from Merck Animal Health. If you live outside of the US, please reach out directly to the company you are interested in to see if they are available to you.
Is there a fee for a VF vendor to evaluate if their technology will work on my ranch?
As of October 2024, VF companies do not charge a consulting fee to determine if a system will work on your ranch. We recommend contacting all companies and having thorough conversations about the systems, customer support, costs, warranties, connectivity/coverage, terrain, software, collars, and waste production. See this basic comparison for more information on each system. For a more thorough comparison, watch this webinar with a presentation comparing VF manufacturers. To our knowledge, as of August 18, 2024, Corral Technologies has gone out of business.
Before purchasing the technology, consider talking with other producers using VF or with a Cooperative Extension professional or NRCS staff. These individuals may be able to share their experiences with VF or recommend someone who has used VF. VF systems can have a steep learning curve and it is important to recognize the system's strengths and weaknesses before purchasing.
Collars
Do I buy or lease collars?
It depends on the specific company. As of October 2024, you must:
- Buy from eShepherd™ from Gallagher™
- Lease from Halter™
- Buy from Nofence™
- Lease from Vence™ from Merck Animal Health
How are collars placed on livestock?
Here are resources on how to place Vence™ collars on livestock, including a brief tutorial from South Dakota State University Extension on collaring cattle and recommendations for proper fit and some additional tips about efficiently collaring livestock.
What does it look like when cattle interact with a virtual fence?
This video shows how cattle wearing a VF collar responds to the auditory and electrical cues.
How does the collar battery perform in cold or very hot climates?
Battery performance may be impacted by climate. For example, solar powered collars in heavy cloud cover may not recharge as quickly as collars in sunny climates. More research is needed to fully understand the potential impacts of hot and cold temperature on long-term battery performance across companies.
Does rain or snow impact collars?
All virtual fence companies state that their collars are waterproof to keep moisture sensitive electronics dry. If water is able to enter collar housings, then the performance of the collar could be compromised or it could stop working altogether. It is important to monitor your collars using the system's software to track collars that become non-functional over time. Ask the VF company about waterproof designs specifics if necessary for your operation.
Do collars fall off livestock?
Yes, the collars are designed to break away from livestock for safety reasons if the collar is caught on something - for example, a tree branch or the animal's leg. The environment your livestock are grazing on might have an impact on the percentage of collars falling off (grasslands vs shrublands); but this has not been scientifically tested and would vary between companies. If collars are too loose, it is also possible for them to fall off livestock during normal grazing behavior. The specific drop rate will vary based on the manufacturer, ecosystem, and accuracy of fitting.
What is the lifespan of a collar?
The lifespan of a collar depends on the collar manufacturer, version, and other factors. According to information compiled by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, expected lifespans are:
- eShepherd™ from Gallagher™ claim a lifespan of 7-10 years
- Halter™ claim a lifespan of 5 years
- Nofence™ claim a lifespan 5-10 years
- Vence™ from Merck Animal Health claim a single-use battery will last 6 to 9 months depending on use. There is a replacement battery fee. If the collar fails, send the collar back and get a replacement. More information coming soon about collar collection.
Connectivity/Base Stations
What is the cost of a base station?
The cost of a base station varies depending on the VF manufacturer. See a basic VF vendor comparison. Contact the vendor for the most up-to-date prices. Not all VF manufacturers require a base station.
Where should I place a base station for optimal coverage?
The number and placement of base stations will depend on many factors including topography. Some vendors will ask for a geospatial file of your ranch. They will map estimate radio coverage for each base station and provide guidance on the number and locations of base stations needed to cover your entire ranch. The University of Arizona created a tool to plot the best location for up to 2 Vence™ base stations. The tool requires ArcGIS Pro with the Spatial Analyst extension enabled. Learn more about the tool. With some companies, it may be possible to use a mobile base station, which may reduce the number of base stations needed. If you decide to build a mobile base station, ask the VF company about the warranty. Mobile base stations can be moved around a ranch to follow livestock through a pasture rotation.
How is a base station powered?
Mobile base stations and stationary base stations are both solar powered.
How do you set up a mobile base station?
Oregon State University created instructions on how to build a DIY a mobile base station. There is also a video. If you decide to build a mobile base station, ask the VF company about the warranty.
How tall is a base station?
The height of the base station varies between vendors. The tallest portion of the base station is a vertical antenna. Contact the VF to get the specific antenna height.
Is the base station at risk of being struck by lightning?
The vertical antenna of the base station may be at risk of being struck by lightning. All base stations are grounded to help limit the risk that lightning strikes will damage or disable base stations. Since 2020, none of the University of Arizona's three base stations which are located in southern Arizona have been damaged by lightning. However, they have been exposed to frequent summer thunderstorms so they may have been struck by lightning. Regardless of grounding, if struck by lightning, it is possible the base station's electronics would be compromised.
How does the communication between the VF system's software and collars work? What is the difference between cellular networks, base stations, and satellites?
The VF system's software and collars communicate through cell networks, base stations, or satellites.
- Collars with cellular radios use existing 4G/5G networks and require no additional infrastructure, but effectiveness depends on coverage. VF collars can function on intermitted connectivity, so cellular networks may be sufficient.
- Base stations are placed strategically to transmit data using long-range wide area network (LoRaWAN) radio frequencies, which then relay the data via cellular or Wi-Fi to the VF system software. Base stations allow for coverage across large and remote areas of a ranch, though they require line of sight to collars. Multiple base stations are needed in rough terrain, which increases costs for the technology.
- Satellite networks (e.g., Starlink, Kuiper, and OneWeb) offer near-global internet coverage, which can be especially beneficial in rugged or remote areas where other connectivity options are not sufficient. While satellite internet may require minimal additional equipment, the subscription cost can be significant and may increase over time, and the expense varies depending on the terrain of the ranch. As of October 2024, no VF companies use satellites.
Sustainable Southwest Beef created this comparison of communication options.
Do any VF systems work solely with satellites?
As of October 2024, no VF systems work exclusively on satellite communication.
- eShepherd™ from Gallagher™ uses multiple base stations or cellular networks
- Halter™ uses multiple base stations
- Nofence™ uses cellular networks
- Vence™ from Merck Animal Health uses multiple base stations
There is ongoing research in southcentral Alaska using direct-to-satellite collars and ear tags to track livestock locations on remote rangelands (not a VF system). Findings suggest the two systems tested successfully tracked movement, but they do not have an integrated auditory or electrical cue to influence movement. Learn more about the Alaska direct-to-satellite project.
How long does it take for the collars to receive new information from the VF system's software?
Virtual fences cannot be activated or deactivated immediately. The time it takes for a collar to receive a message from the VF system's software can vary from ~15 minutes to 3 days. This time variation depends on the manufacturer, herd size, location of the animal, topography, and communication system (cellular network/base stations).
How well do VF systems work in landscapes with canyons and varied topography?
Most VF systems require a direct line of sight from the collar to the base station or cellular tower. Canyons or mountainous rangelands can be problematic or require additional base stations and/or mobile base stations for complete coverage of the pasture or allotment. Learn more in Basics of a Virtual Fence System.
What is the base station coverage area for VF systems that use base stations?
The coverage area varies by VF vendor and topography.
- eShepherd™ from Gallagher™ claims 2- to 4-mile coverage depending on conditions from a base station
- Halter™ did not provide coverage from a base station
- Vence™ from Merck Animal Health claims 9-mile coverage from a base station
eShepherd™ from Gallagher™ can also use cellular networks. Nofence™ uses cellular networks exclusively.
Base station coverage distance will influence the number of base stations needed. Vendors may ask for a geospatial file of your ranch. They will help map radio coverage and provide guidance on the number and locations of base stations.
Software
Does the ranch need to be mapped to use a VF system?
Yes, all critical ranch infrastructure needs to be mapped before creating virtual fences. This includes fence lines, gates, and water sources - both seasonal and year-round, man-made and natural. Livestock must always have access to water. See the Vital role of high-quality GIS data.
What diagnostic tools are available to help identify problems?
Specific tools to help identify problems vary by vendor. Some companies send notifications to your phone when an animal receives an electrical cue or when an animal has entered the exclusion zone. Other systems send a notification if an animal has not moved in a specified amount of time, which might indicate the collar has fallen off and is on the ground or that an animal is sick or injured. Ask the VF vendors about specific diagnostic tools related to collar functionality, battery life, base station range, and more.
Is any of the VF software open source?
No, VF software is proprietary and specific to a VF vendor. It may be possible to work with a specific vendor to obtain data on your herd. However, access to VF data is not guaranteed and may not always be available to the user. Contact a specific VF vendor for more information. Some vendors allow you to share the locations of your animals publicly on the VF company's grazing map, which can be valuable in public areas to share information about where collars and virtual fence lines are located.