Pilot Project Tests Benefits of GPS for Conservation Grazing
Published September 4, 2025
Tracking via GPS is everywhere these days, from providing driving directions to location sharing and trail navigation. Recently, the academic and agricultural communities have been testing this commonly used technology on cattle as a potential new tool for managing livestock grazing more efficiently and effectively, including as part of a new pilot project within Midpen’s conservation grazing program.
“We are testing the efficacy of this tool for providing better grazing, fuels and carbon management as it is beginning to be adopted by ranchers,” said Tracy Shane, State Extension Livestock Specialist with the University of Nevada at Reno.
Shane’s research team is providing one year of funding for a pilot project in partnership with Midpen conservation grazing tenant Willow Creek Land and Cattle to collar one of their herds that graze in Midpen’s La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve. The project is also partially funded by the nonprofit Nevada Agricultural Foundation.
The Red Barn area of the preserve maintains its historic agricultural use as a working ranch with Willow Creek Land and Cattle tenants currently managing a herd of 60 female cows. Their cows each recently received a GPS device that fits like a traditional cowbell, which the cattle are used to, and is designed to break away if needed. The University of Nevada researchers have fitted the GPS collar devices onto hundreds of cattle as part of their wider study.
The devices track the cattle’s locations every 30 minutes, allowing ranchers to know where their cattle are on the landscape at all times. Another benefit the devices could provide is fewer fences on the landscape. Similar to virtual fencing used by some dog owners, the cattle GPS collars can be used with virtual fencing to more precisely manage where cattle are grazing and keep them out of sensitive areas, such as creek corridors, ponds and restoration areas without the need for physical fencing.
“We’re in a data revolution when it comes to livestock, it’s pretty exciting,” Shane said. “A lot of agencies are looking into using GPS and it takes enterprising, innovative forerunners getting some experience to make that change.”