Virtual fences are not more stressful than conventional electric fences in rotationally stocked beef cattle

Abstract

• •
  Virtual fence (VF) technology is rapidly developing and being adopted, but many ranchers and consumers have questions about its effect on the welfare of range beef cattle.
• •
  We conducted two studies using either VF collars or conventional electric fencing to rotationally graze beef cattle. We measured several common physiological and behavioral indicators of stress and correlated these indicators with the number of electric stimuli received from the VF collars.
• •
  Physiological and behavioral indicators of stress were not different between cattle rotated within the two types of fencing. No correlations were evident between the number of electrical stimuli received and stress indicators. From the perspective of cattle welfare, we concluded that continued development and use of VF is warranted.