Virtual Fencing: A Promising Tool for Smarter Grazing and Rangeland Health

A University partnership brings smarter and more sustainable grazing management to Nevada

By Emma Lande, University of Nevada, Reno's College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources— summarized for agInnovation

University of Nevada, Reno researchers are testing virtual fencing to guide grazing cattle, protect riparian areas, and reduce wildfire risk. GPS collars and a tower let ranchers set app-based invisible boundaries to direct cattle movements. Photo by Austin Lemons.

In Nevada’s sprawling, arid rangelands, installing and maintaining miles of traditional fences is labor-intensive, expensive, and often impractical — especially over rugged terrain or on public lands. A new initiative led by UNR shows how virtual fencing (VF) — using GPS collars on cattle and app-based “invisible” boundaries — could transform grazing management.

What is Virtual Fencing?

• Ranchers outfit cattle with GPS-enabled collars that communicate with a base station or tower. Using a computer or handheld app, they draw grazing boundaries rather than erecting physical fences.

• When a cow nears the designated boundary, the collar emits an auditory warning; if the cow continues, it receives a gentle stimulus. Over time, animals learn to respect the “virtual fence.”

• Rather than fixed, static fences, VF enables dynamic, movable boundaries — letting ranch managers shift grazing zones with ease.

Why This Matters — For Ranchers and Rangelands

• Greater flexibility & efficiency: Ranchers avoid hauling barbed wire, digging post holes, and maintaining miles of fencing — saving time, labor, and cost.

• Improved ecological outcomes: VF lets managers protect sensitive riparian zones, fragile soils, and native vegetation by keeping cattle out of these areas.

• Wildlife and habitat preservation: Less reliance on rigid, mesh-and-wire fences reduces barriers to wildlife movement and lowers the risk of habitat fragmentation.

• Wildfire risk reduction: Strategically grazing cattle via VF can reduce fine-fuel loads — especially invasive grasses that dry early and fuel fires — helping create fire breaks across rangelands vulnerable to wildfire.

Evidence & Early Adoption in Nevada

At UNR, researchers — including specialists from the Extension and Experiment Station — have begun testing VF on working Nevada ranches. Their early experience suggests VF is finally becoming a viable tool on working rangelands, especially in landscapes where traditional fencing is unmanageable.

Proponents point out that while VF isn’t meant to replace secure perimeter fences fully, it excels as a dynamic cross-fence — enabling targeted, rotational grazing management that supports both livestock and ecosystem goals.

Read the full article here: https://www.unr.edu/nevada-today/news/2025/virtual-fencing