UCCE Central Sierra

Central Sierra: Virtual Fencing Information

UC Central Sierra research on Virtual Fencing on California Rangelands 

Virtual Fencing is a precision agriculture tool gaining traction across California's diverse rangelands that uses GPS collars to contain livestock without physical fences. 

Research and trials are ongoing, and many of the findings are collected in the content found here. 

dry brush in front opens to landscape of hills covered by trees and rangelands. A lake is in the valley in the distance
UCCE Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: UCCE Researchers Bring Virtual Fence Technology to Local BLM Lands

February 25, 2026
By Scott R Oneto, Brian J Allen
Emerging Precision Agriculture Tool Improves Grazing Systems  For the past four years, UC researchers have been examining the usefulness of virtual fence (VF) technology on a multitude of landscapes across the Sierra Nevada. Virtual fencing is an emerging precision agriculture tool capable of improving…
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herd of cattle wearing virtual fencing collars next to fuel break grazing results where range has been effectively grazed
UCCE Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Virtual Fencing Enables Cattle to Install Fuel Breaks in the Wildland-Urban Interface

September 15, 2025
By Brian J Allen, Scott R Oneto
Strategically placed buffers help slow the spread of wildfire California’s annual rangelands are famous for their green, rolling hills in winter and spring. But as the grass dries out, these landscapes become highly flammable and pose a significant fire risk. According to CAL FIRE’s Wildfire Activity…
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side-by-side image of virtual fence boundary and movement of heifers within it
UCCE Central Sierra: Article

Central Sierra: Introduction to Virtual Fencing for Livestock and Land Management

September 12, 2025
By Brian J Allen
Virtual Fencing: A New Tool for Livestock and Land Management Virtual fencing (VF) is a precision agriculture tool gaining traction across California’s diverse rangelands. It uses GPS collars to contain livestock without physical fences. Producers set virtual boundaries across their pasture from a…
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