When the BC Cattlemen’s Association (BCCA) initiated a targeted grazing project to reduce wildfire risk in the wildland-urban interface, the prospect of rebuilding lost fencing to facilitate this was costly. An estimated 900 kilometres of fenceline burned in wildfires during 2017 and 2018, with a staggering projected rebuild cost of $14 million.

This economic challenge prompted the BCCA to launch an innovative pilot program to develop virtual fencing technology using wearable technology for cattle.

The pilot began in the spring of 2021. The primary partners in this project are the BCCA, Thibeault Ranch of Cranbrook, A4 Systems of Calgary, which is designing the collars, and Two Story Robot of Kamloops, which is designing the software. Other partners include Telus, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Thompson Rivers University, the University of British Columbia and the University of Alberta. Read more