EPISODE · May 25, 2026 · 27 MIN
Maximize Grazing Resources with Virtual Fence
from Casual Cattle Conversations · host casualcattleconversations
On today's show, Shaye Wanner interviews Saskatchewan ranchers John and Deanne about using Vence virtual fencing on their 400 cow-calf commercial operation near the Bronson Forest. They explain how virtual fencing improves utilization on rough, boggy forest lease country where conventional fencing is difficult and expensive, while saving labor, supporting planned/rotational grazing, and helping soil health by controlling stock density and drift with back fences. They describe added benefits like better monitoring for predation claims, reducing temporary electric fencing on rented land, and sorting groups (heifers, main herd, and open cows) using different virtual fences, achieving about a 95% success rate in a week. They discuss software tools like maps and heat maps, training protocols, cow-to-cow variation in responses, challenges with bull collar retention, collar loss rates improving with tighter fitting, and battery life lasting closer to six months than nine. Learn more about what Vence could look like on your operation here: https://bit.ly/4kfWrCG Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ 01:01 Biggest Grazing Wins 02:42 Why Vence 03:30 Ranch and Region Overview 06:04 Secondary Benefits and Predators 08:24 Sorting Cows with Maps 13:31 Software Insights and Training 16:42 Heat Maps and Logging Changes 19:47 Bulls Learning Curve and Next Steps 24:10 Challenges Battery and Retention
What this episode covers
On today's show, Shaye Wanner interviews Saskatchewan ranchers John and Deanne about using Vence virtual fencing on their 400 cow-calf commercial operation near the Bronson Forest. They explain how virtual fencing improves utilization on rough, boggy forest lease country where conventional fencing is difficult and expensive, while saving labor, supporting planned/rotational grazing, and helping soil health by controlling stock density and drift with back fences. They describe added benefits like better monitoring for predation claims, reducing temporary electric fencing on rented land, and sorting groups (heifers, main herd, and open cows) using different virtual fences, achieving about a 95% success rate in a week. They discuss software tools like maps and heat maps, training protocols, cow-to-cow variation in responses, challenges with bull collar retention, collar loss rates improving with tighter fitting, and battery life lasting closer to six months than nine. Learn more about what Vence could look like on your operation here: https://bit.ly/4kfWrCG Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ 01:01 Biggest Grazing Wins 02:42 Why Vence 03:30 Ranch and Region Overview 06:04 Secondary Benefits and Predators 08:24 Sorting Cows with Maps 13:31 Software Insights and Training 16:42 Heat Maps and Logging Changes 19:47 Bulls Learning Curve and Next Steps 24:10 Challenges Battery and Retention
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Maximize Grazing Resources with Virtual Fence
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