One of the challenges with good grazing management is the amount of time it takes. The following article was prepared by Lynnae Ylioja, range management extension specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture in Outlook. It looks at two technologies livestock producers can use to save time and improve grazing management. (Photo was taken at a Canadian Forage Grassland Association (CFGA)/Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) project in eastern Saskatchewan)

Remote water monitoring systems:

• Great tool for monitoring a water trough in a remote location of a pasture (difficult to access), monitoring watering bowl in winter for water temperature

One system recently used in a demonstration project

• with the ability to measure water level and quality. The same system advertises being able to measure other parameters including water temperature
• The monitor was installed in a water trough and the levels could be seen on a cellphone app
• Producer could look at the app at any time through the day to see what the levels were
• Could also set a limit, triggers a notification to their phone if below the limit
• This would be a great tool for producers with extensive wintering systems, or water troughs in remote locations to consider installing to save some time.

Virtual fencing is another technology that is now commercially available (with 1 company) in Saskatchewan.

How it works:

• Livestock wear a collar that confine them to an area set from a program on a computer or phone
• The fence can be moved in the program and synced to the collars using cell or satellite service – basically the collar downloads a map of where the fences are
• Collars are tracked with GPS and location of animals is shown in the program
• Audio warning from collar when approach virtual fence
• Small electric stimulus to discourage exiting area

There is a lot potential for improving grazing management with virtual fencing.

• Speed up the process of cross-fencing by drawing the fence on an app instead of going out to build it
• Opens possibilities for fencing in heavily treed or steep areas that are difficult or expensive to fence
• Targeted grazing of invasive weeds or to exclude environmentally sensitive areas from the grazing area
• Some companies advertise capabilities for tracking the grazing activity of individual animals and sorting animals into groups.

There are two virtual fencing trials currently underway, which will give a better idea of how it works in Saskatchewan – one in the north and one in the eastern side of the province.