University of Missouri expands virtual fencing for cattle in Missouri and Nebraska

The University of Missouri is expanding its virtual fencing program for cattle in Missouri and Nebraska with a new $3.7 million grant.

The university said the project will involve 200 livestock producers managing about 150,000 acres. The program uses GPS-enabled collars and virtual boundaries set through a mobile app or computer, allowing ranchers to guide cattle without traditional fencing.

The expansion is part of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative. NFWF said the University of Missouri is one of six initial grantees in the program.

According to the university, the new funding builds on earlier virtual-fencing trials and will extend the technology to more producers across the two-state region.

The project is meant to support grassland management and regenerative grazing practices while giving producers another tool for controlling herd movement.

NFWF says the broader initiative is supported by McDonald’s USA, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and several McDonald’s beef and beverage suppliers.

The announcement marks a move from pilot work to a broader producer rollout.