The use of virtual fencing (VF) in pasture-grazed farm systems is currently close to commercial reality but there are no studies applying the principles of responsible research and innovation, such as foresighting, to this technology. This paper reports results of a study aimed at foresighting potential implications associated with virtual fencing of cattle. A Delphi method was used to survey the opinions of farming practitioners and researchers, using pasture-grazed cattle farming in New Zealand as a case study. The key benefits were identified as environmental protection, improved feed allocation, access to previously unavailable grazing areas, labour savings and individual animal management. The five most important potential barriers identified were device reliability, farmer perception of a value proposition, ethical issues related to community perception of negative animal welfare, lack of feed budgeting skills of farmers, and excessive training time. We suggest that more knowledge is needed on ethical issues associated with VF, including understanding public opinions of such technology developments. We suggest that development and use of VF has been focussed primarily on technical features and user benefits and needs to include consideration of wider socio-ethical principles to ensure responsible innovation processes. The findings from this study will aid focussed research and development to incorporate ethically acceptable development alongside technical factors.

中文翻译：

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使用德尔福方法预见负责任的创新：牛养殖中虚拟围栏创新的案例研究

目前，在牧场放牧农场系统中使用虚拟围栏 (VF) 已接近商业现实，但尚无将负责任的研究和创新原则（例如预见性）应用于该技术的研究。本文报告了一项旨在预见与牛的虚拟围栏相关的潜在影响的研究结果。使用德尔福方法来调查农业从业者和研究人员的意见，并以新西兰的牧场放牧养牛业为案例研究。主要好处被确定为环境保护、改善饲料分配、进入以前无法使用的放牧区、节省劳动力和个体动物管理。确定的五个最重要的潜在障碍是设备可靠性、农民对价值主张的看法、与社区对动物福利的负面看法、农民缺乏饲料预算技能以及培训时间过长有关的道德问题。我们建议需要更多关于与 VF 相关的伦理问题的知识，包括了解公众对此类技术发展的意见。我们建议 VF 的开发和使用主要关注技术特性和用户利益，需要考虑更广泛的社会伦理原则，以确保负责任的创新过程。这项研究的结果将有助于重点研究和开发，将道德上可接受的开发与技术因素结合起来。包括了解公众对此类技术发展的看法。我们建议 VF 的开发和使用主要关注技术特性和用户利益，需要考虑更广泛的社会伦理原则，以确保负责任的创新过程。这项研究的结果将有助于重点研究和开发，将道德上可接受的开发与技术因素结合起来。包括了解公众对此类技术发展的看法。我们建议 VF 的开发和使用主要关注技术特性和用户利益，需要考虑更广泛的社会伦理原则，以确保负责任的创新过程。这项研究的结果将有助于重点研究和开发，将道德上可接受的开发与技术因素结合起来。