First application of virtual fencing in an intensive rotational grazing system with focus on ecosystem services.
Date Issued
2026
Type
conferenceObject
Abstract
Most of the world’s meat production is supplied by intensive livestock systems, whose environmental impacts and resource demands have increased interest in alternative intensification pathways. In grazing-based systems, sustainable intensification aims to increase productivity and management efficiency while maintaining ecosystem functions and reducing external inputs. Within this framework, intensive rotational grazing (IRG) systems represent a managed strategy based on short grazing periods, high stocking density and frequent paddock rotation. These approaches enhance pasture utilisation, promote regrowth and soil fertility, and support plant biodiversity, but their adoption is constrained by high labour requirements associated with frequent animal movements and fence management. Recent advances in precision livestock farming offer new opportunities to improve grazing efficiency. Virtual fencing (VF) allows livestock containment without physical barriers via GPS-enabled collars delivering acoustic warnings to animals followed, if necessary, by mild electrical stimuli. While VF has been applied in conventional systems, its integration into IRG systems remains unexplored. This ongoing study evaluates the feasibility of integrating VF-collars (eShepherd®, Gallagher, Australia) into an IRG system, focusing on animal behaviour, floristic composition, and soil physical condition. The trial involves 24 adult Black Angus cattle (23 cows and 1 bull) managed under the Voisin rotational grazing scheme on a commercial beef farm in Central Italy. Cows were fitted with VF-collars in mid-November 2025 and hair samples were collected for cortisol analysis. Virtual boundary was activated on 20 November, starting a one-week training period. Seven camera traps were installed to monitor initial animal interactions with the VF. Rotational grazing then began across 14 paddocks, with three-day grazing periods and hay supplementation before moving to the next paddock. On 11 December, the bull was fitted with a VF-collar and integrated into the herd without specific training, learning alongside the trained animals. Animal responses are monitored via collar data. Initial network coverage constraints delayed boundary activation; once resolved, animals responded predominantly to acoustic cues, with limited electrical stimuli and few escape events. Over 42 days, eight escapes occurred, six resolved via the collars’ automated re-entry system. Soil physical properties are assessed through bulk density, penetration resistance and shear strength measurements, while vegetation is monitored in 10m²-plots, recording floristic composition and cover (%). Currently, both vegetation and soil data are preliminary due to ongoing sampling and weather-related constraints. Overall, this study presents the experimental framework and early outcomes of VF integration into an IRG system, with implication for grazing management, labour efficiency and ecosystem services.
Conference(s)
Seeds of Innovation: PhD Research Symposium