Solar Powered Bilateral Virtual Fencing Using Global Positioning System Technology & Animal Behavior for Controlling Free-Ranging Animals

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Managing free-ranging animal distribution in real-time remains a worldwide challenge. Most conventional approaches to improve animal distribution cannot be implemented in real-time because the tool to bring about the change is fixed in time and or space while forage and animal resources are temporally and spatially dynamic. Until recently Bilateral Virtual Fencing (BVF) was only theoretically possible; however, with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology combined with low stress animal behavior principles, manipulated electro-mechanically, free-ranging animals can now become prescription tools used in management. With BVF animals not only can be contained but moved, and all of this in real-time. To develop a new low stress method for managing the distribution of free-ranging animals (beef cattle in this particular research) that is flexible in time and space by combining electronics and animal behavior to accomplish control of the animal. This method of free-ranging animal control we have termed Bilateral Virtual Fencing (BVF).