Application of Virtual Fencing for the management of Limousin cows at pasture

A potential use of pasture-based systems requires an efficient grazing management strategy. Thanks to the Virtual Fencing (VF) physical fences are replaced by virtual ones and, when animals approach boundaries, they receive a paired stimulus: audio cue followed low electrical pulse if cross over fences. This study aims i) evaluate animal's ability learn, and then respond positively, VF ii) VFs’ efficiency manage herd within areas virtually delimitated; iii) assess chronic stress related VF, evaluating hair cortisol concentration (HCC), during experiment. Twenty Limousine cows were fitted with commercial VF-GPS collars (Nofence AS, Batnfjordsør, Norway). The experiment was divided into four trials: Trial zero (T0) inactive let get acquainted them; one (T1) where three boundaries coincided ones, while set across pasture restrict area; two (T2) in which area further extended moving forwards board; (T3) line longways pasture. Results show significant decrease stimuli delivered (i.e., sounds pulses) (p < 0.001), among trials. Moreover, reduction 0.0250) ratio between pulses observed T1 T3, T2 being like both. Regarding cows’ learning capacity, events significantly less T3 0.001). Furthermore, duration tones lower than 0.0005). Animals increasingly kept inside inclusion zones trials, lowest number escape from zone registered No differences HCC before after treatment. progressive studied parameters following sessions, indicates increase associative through time. fencing has proven be effective tool managing Limousin at However, future research is needed animals’ performances terms activities on assessment conditions as well.