By Stan Wise, South Dakota Soil Health Coalition
Moving livestock is an inescapable part of a rancher’s life, and it can be labor intensive, especially if a producer uses a rotational grazing system designed to improve rangeland and soil health.
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North Dakota State University Associate Professor and Livestock Environmental Stewardship Specialist Miranda Meehan explains her research with virtual fencing livestock collars at a workshop in Leola, S.D., in March.
Submitted photo
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White River, S.D., rancher Lealand Schoon began using goats to combat encroachment by woody plant species through targeted grazing early in 2024. He initially used corrals to contain the goats. These corrals had to be moved daily to allow the goats to access new forage.
Submitted photo
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In mid-December 2024, White River, S.D., rancher Lealand Schoon began using virtual fencing collars to manage the goats in his targeted grazing program to combat encroachment by woody plant species. The use of these collars allowed Schoon to keep the goats grazing throughout the winter when weather conditions would have made it difficult to move corrals for the goats on a daily basis.
Submitted photo
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