Two Smart Ways Beef Ranchers Are Using Virtual Fencing (That You Might Not Know About)
Virtual fencing opens up a lot more than just shifting cattle from your phone each day. On beef ranches, we’re seeing Halter users get clever with how they use the system, solving problems that used to mean more fence, labor, and stress on stock, or weren’t even possible conventionally.
Here are two ways beef ranchers are using Halter right now that aren’t obvious, but are worth knowing about.
Preferential Feeding
This one’s a rancher favorite, even though most wouldn’t know to try it unless someone next door showed them first, but is something that delivers real gains without changing infrastructure.
What is preferential feeding?
Preferential feeding (what we call overlapping breaks) lets you give different feed allocations to different animals, while:
- Keeping them in the same mob
- Sharing the same water source if required
- Not putting up a single extra fence
When using Halter's virtual fencing system, one group of cattle can move ahead onto fresher feed if they're allocated to a different break, while the rest stay back in their own break - something that’s impossible with traditional fencing.
.png)
Why beef ranchers are using it
This setup is especially helpful for beef finishing or anytime you want to put condition on certain animals faster while keeping them in the same mob.
Common use cases:
- Instead of pausing calved cows and letting them roam free (particularly in large pastures), ranchers are changing them into a ‘preferentially feeding’ mob
- Lighter or younger cattle getting access to higher-quality feed
- Animals that need a bit more help finishing before sale
- Managing condition without splitting mobs (and the fighting that can come with it - especially with bulls)
Because the mob stays together socially, you avoid the stress and behavior issues that can happen when they're mixed in with other animals.
And, cattle don’t always rush ahead immediately. In many cases, it takes a few days for them to discover they can leave the herd and move forward onto fresh feed.
Laneway Breaks: Shifting Beef Cattle Without the Chase
Moving beef cattle from one place to another can chew up time fast, especially if it means opening gates, pushing mobs, or walking long distances.
That’s where virtual laneway breaks come in.
What are laneway breaks?
Laneway breaks let you draw a virtual corridor that cattle can move through, whether that’s:
- Down an existing physical laneway
- Across pastures
- Or straight toward the yards
Thanks to a recent update to our beef product, breaks no longer need to sit entirely within one pasture. That means you can now draw breaks across fence lines, opening up many more options for cattle containment and movement.
.png)
Why beef ranchers care
Instead of chasing cattle, walking behind them, or simply hoping they head in the right direction, ranchers can now set the break and let the animals move themselves via the collar’s passive cue. Vibration on the collar is used as more of an “FYI, fresh feed’s this way”. Cattle choose when to move, at their own pace, and aren’t actively guided forward with cues from the collar.
No more cattle wandering where they like and getting into pastures that aren’t ready for them.
This also helps with:
- Better pasture utilisation
- Fewer missed areas or overgrazed spots
- Less pressure on the rancher (and the stock)
Ranchers are already using virtual laneway breaks to move cattle down physical laneways and straight into fresh pastures - without lifting a finger (except to push the right button in the app). This frees them up to get on top of other higher value jobs on the ranch.
Now what?
Neither preferential feeding nor laneway breaks are big shiny buttons in the app. They’re smart ways of using the system, and once ranchers see them in action, they tend to stick and become part of the daily routine.
Less fence.
Less labor.
Better use of feed.
Happier cattle.
If you need help getting either of these features up and running on your ranch, the Halter team is always here and happy to help - you can reach out to your Territory Manager anytime!
