The University of Arizona study included Gallagher eShepherd alongside Halter, Nofence, and Vence. Here's what the data showed.
Among the systems modelled, Gallagher eShepherd Cellular had the lowest Year 2+ cost per cow — driven by a $24 annual data fee and no base station requirement.
Across 7-year BCR modelling with a 2% calf weight gain assumption, both Gallagher eShepherd configurations ranked highest among all vendors — at every herd size modelled.
Longer hardware life reduces amortised cost over the investment period.
Source: Duval et al. (2025). University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. Costs include hardware, annual fees, and labour. Individual results vary by herd size and scenario.
Pasture defaults reflect commonly-cited regional ranges. Hardware and data are eShepherd list pricing.
Field trials with virtual fencing show utilisation gains of 15–20% as managers split paddocks more frequently and rest pasture without rebuilding fences.
Where rotation cycles match pasture recovery, total annual dry-matter production has been observed to lift by 18–22% over comparable conventional operations.
A 2025 University of Arizona study notes cellular coverage limits adoption across rangeland — base station networks address this but add upfront cost, reflected in this calculator.
Reference: Duval et al. (2025). Foundations of Virtual Fencing: Economics of Virtual Fence Systems →
The pasture model, the cost model, and what they deliberately leave out.
Talk to the team — we'll work through the numbers with you.