Intro to Vence, Virtual Cow Fence

Circle P Enterprises (Betsy and Reece) provides contract hay services in the Western Montana area. We are a 250 head beef cattle operation and we want to show you what ranching is all about.
Find us on facebook- / circle.p.enterprises
Make sure to comment your questions and thoughts so we can get you the information you want!
Vence is a virtual cattle fence we are using in collaboration with the US National Forest Service. We are doing a 5 year study with them. The cows wear GPS collars that can be programed with a fence line. The cows receive an audible tone and a shock when they get close to the virtual fence line. It can be managed on our phones and fence lines changed to best utilize the grass and keep cattle off of ground that is over used or riparian areas. If successful this could prove beneficial in reducing the cost of building new fence and save time repairing existing fence or moving poly wire.

[@farmdude]

Any update on the vence. how is it working out. Would you do it again if forest service didn’t push it. Interesting opportunity in our area if these things work out. How did the training go for the cows.

[@nickjewart9351]

Thats neat technology! So you will have to takr those all off every 6 months and change the batteries?

[@circlepenterprises]

We will only use them for the summer grazing season so they will be pulled at Preg check in October.

[@calebschaefer4924]

What did it cost? When I looked on vence's website, it said they only did 500 cow herds.

[@circlepenterprises]

The towers are costly. We needed two to cover our permit. $10,000 each. The collars are $50 per collar per year rental. Initially it was larger herds I was told 200. I am doing a pilot project with USNF so I think they saw potential for more use so that’s how we got 100.

[@calebschaefer4924]

Thanks for letting me know. That is really interesting. Can't wait to see how they work for y'all.

[@noelamaral3639]

Like they aren't gonna scratch it off???

[@circlepenterprises]

We put them on 108 head. 4 of the 5 bulls lost theirs. I was told that would probably happen. But wanted to try track them. 5 cows lost theirs and two of those got hooked on something and broke the links. I thought way more would come off but was happy with the retention percent.
Thanks for watching.