Challenges and opportunities to leverage virtual fence data for rangeland management

Most virtual fence (VF) devices use the Global Positioning System (GPS) to locate and track the position of livestock. VF devices transmit GPS data across the internet to the VF software, and users can monitor the location and distribution of livestock across a pasture or grazing allotment in near real time. Data from VF devices can be used to address resource management concerns as they occur rather than after, and managers can potentially use VF devices to alter livestock distribution if an undesirable grazing distribution occurs. Users of VF devices should be aware of GPS errors and screen for erroneous data points when interpreting data from VF devices. Large datasets generated by VF devices and lack of standardization present challenges for users of VF device data.