Test PB Collection: FTE

Designing a VF boundary is simple and user-friendly. While the exact process varies between companies, the general approach is the same. Livestock producers open an app on their phone or a website on their desktop, typically displaying a Google map of their property.

To activate a VF, simply select the entire herd or individual animals, choose the desired VF, and click send. The instructions are transmitted via a cellular network to the collars on the animals out on the range. Most collars update within a few minutes to an hour.

Each companys VF system contain livestock differently, but they all function in a similar way. When an animal approaches the VF boundary, the collar enters an active mode and begins tracking the animals location more frequently.

The VF user interface offers several useful tools to let the livestock producer visualize where their herd is located over time. Single Animal Tracking: You can monitor the location and movement of an individual animal, providing detailed insights into its trail and behavior.

Livestock with no previous exposure to VF can be trained to use the system within a week. Though the specifics vary between companies, the training period typically follows a similar process.

California rangelands are characterized by their annual grasses, which grow from late fall through spring, seed, and then die. This cyclical growth presents unique challenges compared to regions with perennial grasses that thrive year-round.

Medusahead (Elymus caput-medusae), an invasive annual grass, is a major problem on California's rangelands. It outcompetes desirable species, reducing both biodiversity and forage quality.

Managing fuel loads is a significant challenge in Californias Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), where urban areas are most at risk from devastating wildfires. A fuel break is a managed area where vegetation is reduced to create a gap that slows or halts the spread of wildfires.

Deer brush (Ceanothus integerrimus.), is a prevalent shrub in the Sierra Nevada foothills, especially within the mixed conifer belt. This plant typically grows in elevations ranging from 2,000 to 6,000 feet, and is characterized by its bushy, spreading form, which can reach heights of up to 10 feet.

Oaks are keystone species in the California foothills, providing essential habitat and resources for a wide range of wildlife.