Though some people have complained about the sound of cow bells, most enjoy the melodic ringing emanating from Swiss pastures.
This tradition could, however, become obsolete.
That’s because MP Ernst Wandfluh from the Swiss People’s Party is calling for virtual fences to be permitted in Switzerland, which means that instead of bells, cows would be wearing GPS trackers which emit electrical and acoustic signals.
What is this about?
According to Wandfluh, who is a farmer when the Parliament is not in session, patching and moving physical fences on steep mountainous terrain so that cows can’t escape is hard work.
"It costs time, energy, and money – all resources that are chronically scarce on a farm," he said.
Virtual fences - defined as “digital boundaries created using GPS technology and software that guides or contains subjects without physical barriers – emit warning tones and electrical impulses.
The cows wear a GPS collar that is linked to a smartphone app via mobile communications.
According to 20 Minuten news platform, “the virtual border of the pasture can be set using the app. If the cow approaches the border, a warning tone sounds that becomes louder. If it continues, a slight electrical impulse follows. If it exceeds all three warning zones, the stimuli are deactivated and the owner is alerted via smartphone. Thanks to GPS, he can see where the escaped cow is at any time.”
This system is, however, banned in Switzerland because of concerns about animal welfare – in this case specifically, about possible discomfort to cows wearing these devices around their necks.
No harm done
However, studies carried out by Agroscope, the research arm of the Federal Office for Agriculture, revealed that the electrical impulse on the GPS collar is approximately 25 times weaker than that of a conventional electric fence.
“No significant differences were observed in cows’ stress hormones, feeding behaviour, or milk production,” the study found.
Further, it turned out that cows are quick learners: After an average of eight electrical stimuli at the virtual boundary, “the cows learned to react correctly without any sustained stress response ,” Agroscope reported.
Also, no escapes were recorded during the trials.
Given these positive results – both in terms of lack or harm to cows and the system’s effectiveness - this idea is gaining support across the political spectrum. as well as from the agricultural community.
"I have no concerns regarding animal welfare," said Green Party MP Kilian Baumann, who is also an organic farmer.
The Centre Party also supports the move.
"I welcome innovations in agriculture," sayis party leader Philipp Matthias Bregy. “Virtual fences reduce the workload and increase added value for farms:
As for the Swiss Farmers' Union, they too are in favour of virtual fences and GPS trackers, “provided they are acceptable from an animal welfare perspective."
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