The application of virtual fencing technology effectively herds cattle and sheep

Autor:	Hamideh Keshavarzi, Dana L.M. Campbell, Jim M. Lea, T. Dyall, Danila Marini, Caroline Lee
Rok vydání:	2021
Předmět:	Fence (finance) 040301 veterinary sciences Computer science business.industry 0402 animal and dairy science Context (language use) 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences Computer security computer.software_genre 040201 dairy & animal science Fencing Boundary (real estate) 0403 veterinary science Herd Animal Science and Zoology Livestock Cattle movement Herding business computer Food Science
Zdroj:	Animal Production Science. 61:1393-1402
ISSN:	1836-5787 1836-0939
DOI:	10.1071/an20525
Popis:	Context Herding and mustering procedures during livestock management can be time-consuming, labour intensive, and costly. The ability to gather animals virtually is an enticing notion but technology to do this is not widely commercially available. Aims The eShepherd® virtual fencing system being developed for cattle may be able to remotely herd animals. This system operates via global positioning system, and requires animals to wear a neckband device. Animals are trained to associate an audio tone with an electrical pulse to avoid a virtual boundary. Methods Experiments were conducted with cattle using pre-commercial prototypes of the automated virtual fencing neckbands, and with sheep using manually operated dog training collars implementing the same virtual fencing algorithm to explore the potential of this technology for herding, and optimal fence designs for herding success. In the first experiment, five groups of 12 cattle were moved down a 344 m paddock using three different fence placement designs. Results The most successful design for cattle herding was a back fence that followed behind the animals to prevent them from turning back in the wrong direction. The fences were manually activated by personnel based on the cattle movement. The same type of fence design was manually applied to two groups of six sheep to successfully herd them down a 140 m paddock in the second experiment. Conclusions All herding was highly dependent on the animal’s own pace of movement as no signals were applied to ‘push’ the animals, the systems only prevented movement back in the wrong direction. The pre-commercial prototype of the automated eShepherd® device used is now obsolete and testing with updated versions would be needed to confirm its application for animal herding. Implications These preliminary trials indicate potential for virtual fencing technology to herd livestock, but technology improvements are required, and an automated device for sheep is not yet available.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
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