SustAinimal Perspectives – Cattle Management with Virtual Fencing in Northern Sweden

SustAinimal Academy includes 22 doctoral students and young researchers. In this webinar, ongoing research within a postdoc project will be presented. Karly Liffen is a postdoc at the Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare who is dedicated to the Exploring Virtual Fencing in the Northern Sweden project  

Virtual fencing is a precision livestock farming tool which may offer farmers advantages in pasture based grazing systems in terms of cost saving on labour and flexibility in grazing solutions. Virtual fencing uses neck collars equipped with global navigation satellite systems and telecommunication functions, where audio cues and electrical pulses replace traditional electric fencing. While virtual fencing has been studied in other countries there is limited research done in high latitude climates (e.g. Northern Sweden) and there are concerns on its use in young animals (< 6months old). Due to this we designed an experiment where the heifers were younger than 6 months old under Northern Swedish summer conditions to assess the impact of virtual fencing on animal behaviour, stress physiology and growth. Thirty heifers (126 – 294 d) were allocated into two groups (n = 15 per group): a control group managed with electric fencing, and a virtual fencing group. The 110-day experiment included three 35-day experimental grazing periods, with six days of a learning phase at the start of each period. Over the course of the study, we collected data and samples on body weight, animal behaviour, hair cortisol, pasture and collar information. Our presentation will focus the study’s results and what they might mean for virtual fencing use especially in younger animals in arctic climate.  

PROGRAM

08.15-08.20 Välkommen och inledning - Thomas Norrby, SLU  
08.20-08.45 Cattle Management with Virtual Fencing in Northern Sweden: Key Findings and Experiences – Juana Chages, SLU och Karly Liffen, SLU 
08.45-09.00 Diskussion, modererad av Thomas Norrby, SLU  

Vi spelar in presentationerna (men inte diskussionerna), och lägger upp inspelningen på SLU Play, så att webinariet kan ses i efterhand här: https://play.slu.se/channel/SustAinimal/565169

Webinariet är öppet för alla intresserade, så sprid gärna inbjudan vidare. Varmt välkommen att delta!  

SustAinimal Perspectives – Dialogues paving the way for a sustainable and competitive food production