Assessing learning, behaviour, and stress level in goats while testing a virtual fencing training protocol.

Area of Science:

• Animal Behavior
• Livestock Management
• Precision Agriculture

Background:

• Virtual fencing (VF) uses GPS collars to manage livestock, emitting acoustic and electric signals.
• Studies show VF effectiveness in cattle, but research on goats is limited.
• Goats' learning, behavior, and stress responses to VF need further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess goats' learning ability with a virtual fencing (VF) training protocol.
• To evaluate behavioral changes and physiological stress (faecal cortisol metabolites - FCMs) in goats using VF.
• To determine the efficacy of VF in a grazing experiment with goats.

Main Methods:

• Twenty adult goats and their offspring were divided into VF and physical fencing groups (cross-over design).
• A 12-day grazing experiment involved daily 4-hour sessions with gradual VF introduction.
• Behavioral observations (grazing, standing, vigilance) and daily fecal sample collection for FCM analysis were conducted.

Main Results:

• Goats demonstrated learning by increasing their 'success ratio' (responding to acoustic cues) and decreasing signal duration.
• Increased vigilance was observed in the VF group, potentially influenced by free-moving kids.
• No significant increase in faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) was detected, with levels decreasing over time.

Conclusions:

• Goats can learn to associate acoustic signals with electric pulses and avoid them using virtual fencing.
• While vigilance behavior increased, virtual fencing did not induce significant physiological stress in goats.
• Further research under practical conditions is recommended to validate these findings for goat management.