The Casual Cattle Conversations Podcast: Keep or Cull: A Montana Rancher's Vence Story

A Montana Rancher's Vence Story

Tyrel Obrecht is a fifth-generation rancher in north central Montana who has turned to Vence to create more grazing opportunities, retain more replacement females and save time.

“I've always been interested in holistic management,” shares Obrecht. “We're definitely in a drier climate where I wouldn't say we grow a ton of grass.”

Knowing his climate, Obrecht understands there is a balance with being conservative with forage utilization and optimizing carrying capacity to improve profits. After returning to the ranch, he first looked toward cross fencing and water development as solutions.

He said, “From a labor and material standpoint, that's a pretty daunting task.”

Fortunately, a family friend who was already using Vence and a friend with the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) were able to introduce him to the technology and available cost-share opportunities.

“We had some cost-share with WWF and we decided one winter to scratch what we had originally intended and try these collars instead,” said Obrecht. “World Wildlife put up the money to help us get a couple towers and paid a significant portion of the first year and then we agreed to try them for two more years after.”

This cost-share opportunity not only reduced the financial risk of trying virtual fence but also made senior generations more receptive to trying it as well. He said, “I had a lot of support and free reign to go forward and try it.”

Obrecht has used Vence for three years on his replacement heifers. The decision to collar yearlings versus mature cows was based on cost-savings and available grazing opportunities.....



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