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November 5, 2025 - Invisible Boundaries

Virtual fencing redefining livestock grazing management.

Would you trade pounding posts and stretching barbed wire for satellites and smartphones? To many, it may feel like it was only a short time ago that electric fencing and the concept of rotational grazing were introduced to producers. Today, these practices are considered mainstream while up-and-coming research and technologies gain momentum – one of such being virtual fencing.

The concept of an invisible fence is not entirely new. Technologies for wireless dog fences have been available on the market for several years to keep pets from straying beyond yard limits. It is only in more recent years that the application of these technologies have been applied to livestock operations for the purpose of grazing management. 

Virtual fencing uses GPS technology and collars to establish a virtual boundary which remotely contains grazing livestock. The fences are set up by “drawing” boundaries on an app with a smartphone or device. Collars communicate and pinpoint GPS data through cellular networks for direct collar-to-app data, or through base stations which use Wi-Fi or cellular data to communicate and pinpoint GPS data. 

Several collars are on the market or being trialed, with most emitting audio cues and mild electric stimuli to help livestock learn and respect established virtual boundaries. A mild pulse is only delivered if several audio warnings are ignored and the virtual boundary is crossed, with most cattle learning to adapt to the boundary after a few interactions.

Beyond establishing a grazing boundary, GPS collars allow for tracking and insight into herd behaviour which can inform future management decisions. Gallagher's eShepherd solar-powered collars also offer notifications features, such as alerting producers of prolonged or unusual cattle inactivity; this can help producers detect potential health issues early.

Building and maintaining fences is an expensive and time-consuming part of responsible livestock management. While often tedious, there is a certain appreciation for the tradition and nostalgia that comes with checking and mending physical fences. 

The familiar ranch task of fixing fences is not disappearing, only evolving for those who decide to embrace the rapidly developing technology. Virtual fencing is not intended to replace every stretch of physical fence and is instead being adopted as a form of supplemental or complementary fencing. 

Many producers use portable electric fences for the frequent rotation of livestock between pasture segments, utilizing intensive grazing, hoof action, and rest periods to allow for vegetation regeneration and soil carbon sequestration. Virtual fencing, which can move a virtual boundary using a smartphone, may appeal to those who currently spend their summers moving polywire between grazing zones. Perimeter or safety fencing may still be necessary at times, however certain flexibility is available for internal or cross-fencing.

Although there is significant promise, virtual fencing may not be the best fit for every operation. As it is still a developing technology with many emerging companies and trials underway, some challenges have presented themselves over time. 

The upfront cost of each collar, with some software requiring a monthly subscription or data fee, can be a major hurdle for producers. Some collars have run into issues with battery life, while others have overcome it using solar-charging technology. Signal connectivity and GPS accuracy may also pose issues in certain landscapes, with collar lifespan and retention also being a concern. 

Regardless of the potential limitations of this technology, virtual fencing may be a valuable tool that could help save time and labour, while also offering convenience and adaptability which traditional fences may lack. 

Recognizing the promise of this developing technology, several research trials are underway, including those being conducted by Olds College’s Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production (TACLP). Additionally, some funding programs such as Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) are expanding rotational grazing funding streams to now include virtual fencing.

As further research is conducted and more companies begin to emerge on the market, virtual fencing for livestock grazing management could also one day become a mainstream practice for producers.