Wearable Technology for Cows: Applications for Virtual Fencing
Additional Funding Sources
The project described was supported by a student grant from the UI Office of Undergraduate Research.
Abstract
Managing the distribution of grazing animals is necessary for animal husbandry, effective land stewardship, and protecting sensitive and riparian lands. Animal-worn technologies to control and manage movement through virtual barriers may allow greater freedom for ranchers and land managers, give superior control of grazing ranges, and reduce economic impacts of physical fencing. Prior work has shown an animal’s nose is an ideal location for administering stimulus to direct movement, but work remains to design efficient, functional devices that do not degrade animal performance. The specific goals of this project were to determine: 1) relationship between age, weight, and nose size of individual animals; 2) best anatomical fit and least irritation to the animal by testing three shapes and sizes of nose pads; and 3) maximum weight to allow the device to remain in place on the animal for 1 month in a natural grazing setting. Initial results show small spherical nose pads cause the least irritation and remain on the animal for days. This research facilitates designing technologies to study the application of virtual fencing and how it affects livestock which will ultimately contribute to a revolution in the way rangelands and riparian areas are managed and grazed.
Wearable Technology for Cows: Applications for Virtual Fencing
Managing the distribution of grazing animals is necessary for animal husbandry, effective land stewardship, and protecting sensitive and riparian lands. Animal-worn technologies to control and manage movement through virtual barriers may allow greater freedom for ranchers and land managers, give superior control of grazing ranges, and reduce economic impacts of physical fencing. Prior work has shown an animal’s nose is an ideal location for administering stimulus to direct movement, but work remains to design efficient, functional devices that do not degrade animal performance. The specific goals of this project were to determine: 1) relationship between age, weight, and nose size of individual animals; 2) best anatomical fit and least irritation to the animal by testing three shapes and sizes of nose pads; and 3) maximum weight to allow the device to remain in place on the animal for 1 month in a natural grazing setting. Initial results show small spherical nose pads cause the least irritation and remain on the animal for days. This research facilitates designing technologies to study the application of virtual fencing and how it affects livestock which will ultimately contribute to a revolution in the way rangelands and riparian areas are managed and grazed.
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