Dr. Zach McFarlane: Virtual Fencing for Strategic Grazing | Ep. 19
In this episode of The Beef Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Zach McFarlane, Assistant Professor at California Polytechnic State University, discusses the effort to reinvigorate grazing research at Swanton Pacific Ranch after the 2020 fire. He explains how grazing can support vegetation management and cultural landscape stewardship, why virtual fencing may transform cattle management on rugged coastal terrain, and how cattle behavior could help identify animals that adapt more readily to new technology. Listen now on all major platforms!
"Strategic cattle grazing can provide valuable vegetation management while supporting conservation, recreation, cultural resources, and wildfire resilience across landscapes facing competing land uses."
Meet the guest: Dr. Zach McFarlane is an Assistant Professor at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where he teaches and conducts research relevant to beef cattle production systems. His background includes ruminant nutrition, cattle behavior, grazing management, and heifer development. He earned a PhD in Animal Sciences from the University of Tennessee and MS and BS degrees from the University of Arizona. Learn more about virtual fencing and grazing research with Dr. Zach McFarlane on The Beef Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.
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What will you learn:ย
- (00:00) Highlight
- (01:35) Introduction
- (02:21) Swanton Pacific Ranch
- (04:39) Cultural landscape stewardship
- (06:09) Grazing as a service
- (07:21) Virtual fencing
- (13:55) Heifer adaptability
- (15:55) Closing thoughts
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