Fence placement: water sources, salt blocks and gates

To ensure a safe and positive experience for the animals, it’s important to follow a few key principles when setting up training fences – and when planning virtual fences in general.

The fence boundary should serve as a natural barrier for the animals. If there are familiar landscape features that the animals are used to accessing, and these are located near the physical fence line, you should try to maintain the animals’ access to them.

Remember: Fence lines should be kept simple and free of attractive features – this makes it easier for the animals to understand and respect the boundary.

Specific recommendations:

Water sources
If the water trough is placed next to the physical fence, we recommend drawing the virtual fence boundary outside both the water trough and the physical fence to ensure the animals still have access.

Salt blocks

If the salt block is placed inside the physical fence, the virtual fence boundary should also be placed outside of the salt block.

Gates

Place the virtual fence boundary outside the gate. This is important to ensure that the animals do not become uncertain or anxious when they need to leave the training area later on, for example during milking.

Here is an example of how a virtual fence can be used in connection with a barn gate, for instance during milking. In this case, an electric wire (red line) has been used to create a funnel system leading into the existing physical fences. Make sure to place the virtual fence 20-30 meters away from the barn to avoid GNSS interference.

By taking these points into account, you help ensure safe and effective training with the virtual fence.