A rancher roundtable on using the eShepherd virtual fencing system
As the agriculture industry continues to evolve, new technologies are reshaping the way ranchers manage their livestock. Gallagher’s eShepherd virtual fencing system is helping ranchers streamline operations, reduce labor, and improve pasture management.
eShepherd uses GPS tracking and solar-powered neckbands to create virtual boundaries, offering a significant shift from traditional fencing methods.
We spoke with four ranchers who have implemented eShepherd to hear firsthand how this technology has impacted their operations.
Meet the Panel:
Nick Jorgensen – CEO, Jorgensen Land and Cattle, South Dakota
Vannie Collins – Owner, Purisima Pastures, LP, Texas
Greg Thoren – Owner, Thoren Farms, Illinois
Henry Burns – President, Wild Olive Cattle Company, Texas
Why Virtual Fencing? The Initial Motivation
When it comes to deciding whether to adopt virtual fencing, all the ranchers had unique reasons, but one common theme emerged: the desire to improve land and cattle management while reducing the physical labor involved.
Nick Jorgensen, who manages a 25,000-acre operation in South Dakota, explained that the decision was driven by logistical challenges. “We run a large number of cattle on expansive land, and managing rotational grazing with traditional physical infrastructure was becoming cumbersome. Virtual fencing allowed us to eliminate the need for additional staff and reduce the burden of manual moves,” he said.
Jorgensen’s goal was clear: increase grazing efficiency without stretching his team too thin.
Vannie Collins in South Texas made the decision based on the inefficiencies of traditional fencing in their dense brushlands. Workers find setting up electric fences in our terrain labor-intensive. Collins noted that the eShepherd system has freed up labor. The system allows us to manage our grazing more intensively. The system also makes our team available for other tasks on the ranch.
Henry Burns who runs 6 000 acres in the same region was attracted to the technology’s ability to improve forage utilization. We aimed to place animals into smaller areas more easily and compel them to be less selective about their food choices. He explained that the eShepherd system has helped us achieve that.
Simple and Straightforward Implementation
A consistent point across all interviews was how easy the Gallagher eShepherd system was to implement. Ranchers found the installation process and daily use surprisingly simple, despite the technology’s sophistication.
“It’s really amazing how easy this is—cattle just will not cross it,” Thoren said. “I can move them at 5 a.m. or 10 p.m., whenever it fits my schedule. Once I get it fully set up, I’ll even be able to move them multiple times a day automatically. That’s going to benefit my soil health, my plant health, and ultimately, my cattle’s health.”
Collins highlighted the ease of setting up the system, especially compared to the challenges of managing traditional fencing. “All we had to do was draw the paddock on the computer. It’s so much simpler than the physical work of setting up electric fences in dense brush,” he shared.
Nick Jorgensen echoed this sentiment and praised the system’s user-friendly interface: “The neckbands came fully assembled, ready to use. There was no hassle in getting them up and running. It’s been incredibly easy to integrate into our existing operations.” :
Henry Burns pointed out that the use of GPS technology was a game-changer in helping manage his cattle. “The system allows me to track exactly where my animals are at any given time. It’s really given us control over their movements, especially when managing such a large herd across a vast area,” he said.
Improved Animal Management and Land Health
The impact on both animal management and land health has been immediate. One key benefit that all the ranchers observed was the ability to implement rotational grazing more effectively. eShepherd enables the movement of cattle with greater precision, ensuring that animals don’t overgraze specific areas.
Jorgensen explained, “We can graze the land harder in specific areas but then rest it for a full year. This approach mimics natural grazing patterns like those of bison, helping improve the grass health over time.”
Burns appreciates how the system helps to optimize forage utilization. “I’m able to control paddock size, recovery periods, and grazing intensity. It’s a more controlled, sustainable way to manage land and cattle.”
For Collins, the GPS tracking of the animals has made monitoring grazing efficiency much easier. “We can adjust paddock size and grazing frequency based on real-time data. It’s a huge improvement over our old methods,” he said.
Cost Savings and Labor Efficiency
The ranchers also mentioned significant labor and time savings along with the ecological benefits. With the need to set up and move physical fences virtually eliminated, labor is freed up for other crucial tasks on the ranch.
Burns, who previously spent considerable time managing portable electric fences, explained the labor-saving potential: “Picking up and putting down the wire was a huge time sink. The eShepherd system saves us both time and money.”
Collins shared a similar sentiment: “Labor is always a challenge in ranching. The system has allowed us to be more efficient in our daily operations. It’s freed up my crew to focus on other important areas of ranching, and that’s made a big difference.”
Thoren, who ranches in the furthest northwest county of Illinois along the Mississippi, said, “With traditional fencing, we’ve lost time and money repairing flood fences after high water takes them out. Sometimes, it takes days to get those fences back up, but with virtual fencing, that’s no longer an issue. The cattle stay contained, and we don’t have to keep rebuilding physical barriers—it’s a huge savings in both labor and materials.”
A Technology for the Future
Looking ahead, the panelists see virtual fencing as a key part of their future operations.
Jorgensen envisions a future where 100% of his herd is outfitted with the eShepherd system. “In the next few years, we hope to have full utilization across our herd. The technology has already shown tremendous benefits in terms of labor efficiency and grazing management,” he said.
Collins echoed this goal and said, “We’re excited about the potential for virtual fencing to scale with our operation. The flexibility it provides is incredible.”
eSheperd, A Wise Investment
Thoren aid, “This system is going to free up so much time. Spring keeps us busy with calving and planting stretching us thin. With this, I can move cattle faster, be more diligent with back fencing, and manage pastures more efficiently without adding extra labor. It’s not just about convenience; it’s about making better use of my time and resources.”
Burns summed it up best: “If you’re dealing with a lot of portable electric fence and it’s becoming a pain point, the eShepherd system is definitely worth considering. It’s been a great investment for us.”
For ranchers looking to streamline operations, improve grazing management, and increase labor efficiency, virtual fencing may just be the solution they’ve been searching for. Interested producers can visit TryVirtualFencing.com.
Content provided by Gallagher-eShepherd
