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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Burns, Oregon » Range and Meadow Forage Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #408795
Research Project: Restoration and Conservation of Great Basin Ecosystems

Location: Range and Meadow Forage Management Research

Title: What’s in a name? Standardizing terminology for the enhancement of research, extension, and industry applications of virtual fence use on grazing livestock

Author
item EHLERT, KRISTA - South Dakota State University
item BRENNAN, JAMIE - South Dakota State University
item BEARD, JOSLYN - University Of Arizona
item REUTER, RYAN - Oklahoma State University
item MENENDEZ, HECTOR - South Dakota State University
item VANDERMARK, LOGAN - South Dakota State University
item STEPHENSON, MITCHELL - University Of Nebraska
item HOAG, DANA - Colorado State University
item MEIMAN, PAUL - University Of Nevada
item O'Connor, Rory
item NOELLE, SARAH - University Of Arizona

Submitted to: Rangeland Ecology and Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/6/2024
Publication Date: 4/17/2024
Citation: Ehlert, K., Brennan, J., Beard, J., Reuter, R., Menendez, H., Vandermark, L., Stephenson, M., Hoag, D., Meiman, P., O'Connor, R.C., Noelle, S. 2024. What’s in a name? Standardizing terminology for the enhancement of research, extension, and industry applications of virtual fence use on grazing livestock. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 94:199-206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2024.03.004.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2024.03.004

Interpretive Summary: Virtual fencing allows for managing the distribution of livestock in a pasture without relying on traditional physical fencing like barbed wire. However, virtual fencing needs standardized terminology to facilitate the development and adoption of this technology. Standardized terminology benefits multiple audiences through better communication of problematic issues and successes. A virtual fence working group collaborated on suggested terms and definitions to aid in easier communication among and between producers, land management agencies, industry, and researchers.

Technical Abstract: Virtual fence (VF) is the use of a global positioning system (GPS) to dictate where on the landscape livestock can graze without relying on traditional physical fence such as barbed wire. The recent acceleration in the development and adoption of VF technology for grazing management has been characterized by the evolution of divergent terminology. Different research and commercial entities have adopted terms and definitions independently. Some terms and definitions are inherently problematic, while others are more aligned, and the simple fact that differences exist contributes to confusion in communication among scientists, producers, land managers, manufacturers, government agencies, and the public. In this paper, we propose a standard terminology determined during a 2-d in-service workshop at the annual meeting of the Society of Rangeland Management in February 2023. Standard terminology will aid in efficient and effective communication among all entities and interested parties.