The agriculture industry is constantly innovating and advancing. From crops being genetically modified to better endure pests, to cattle being selectively bred to promote hardy genetics that can withstand Florida’s muggy temperatures, science is constantly looking toward the future and trying to improve our current systems. In today’s blog from Dark Hammock Legacy Ranch, find out what the future of fencing might look like for ranchers. (Hint: you might see less of it.)
You might have an invisible electric fence built into your lawn for your dog, but have you ever heard of it being used for cattle? While the technology is still relatively new, invisible fences are being used on cattle ranches out west in states like Idaho and Montana. This technology is now being brought to Florida, with ranchers testing it now as part of research.
While the study is limited, with only 100 cows being fitted with the electric collars to begin with, it is convenient in a number of ways. The electric collars send a small shock to the cattle when they get near the invisible fence line, forcing them backwards. The collars stay charged by a small solar panel fitted on the collar. It’s transmitting a signal back to the cell towers within range, typically allowing the cattle within an area of five to six miles.
So what does this mean for the future? While it is convenient to be able to see where all your cattle are on a map at any given moment, it can also mean better care for the cattle. If a cattle is shown as stopped for too long, help can be sent to that location. It’ll be easy to monitor location in the event of a hurricane. And by changing boundaries and herding cattle one way or another, ranchers might be able to more easily practice pasture rotation, which is better for the environment (and for the growth of the cattle).
We’ll keep you up-to-date on the latest in cattle industry news right here on our Dark Hammock Legacy Ranch blog. To learn more about us and the work we do here, visit our website.
