Location: Range and Meadow Forage Management Research
Project Number: 2070-21500-001-015-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 16, 2026
End Date: Aug 16, 2031
Objective:
The objectives of this project are to develop research and outreach associated with 1) use of precision technologies (e.g. virtual fence) to improve management and efficiency of cattle grazing and grazing behavior on large rangeland landscapes and 2) use of precision feeding systems to improve efficiency of grazing systems, and 3) to increase the use and/or development of tools associated with precision livestock and natural resource management.
Approach:
Objective 1 will be assessed at the ARS-managed Northern Great Basin Experimental Range in southeast Oregon, East Moraine Community Forest (EMCF) in Northeast Oregon, and the USFS's Starkey Experimental Forest and Range in NE Oregon. Cattle will be fitted with virtual fence collars. These GPS collars alert cattle to proximity to user defined boundaries using an audible cue and if the animal continues its direction of travel toward the boundary, a mild electrical shock is delivered to the animal. We will create virtual boundaries to contain or exclude animals, depending on the specific management objective, to improve land and livestock management. A set of innovative and integrated cattle grazing practices designed to be compatible with stream and riparian restoration and improved riparian and upland hydrology for recovery of threatened and endangered salmonids that also are economically and logistically feasible will be tested. The efficacy of this technology, as well cattle behavior and performance, will be evaluated, including measurement of compliance of grazing practices with salmonid management. We will document how innovative grazing practices affect beef production, and in particular, in relation to time and money required for more intensive herd monitoring and management. In addition, we will utilize virtual fence technologies to implement an adaptive grazing system within the EMCF to manage livestock distribution and grazing pressure using virtual fence (VF) technologies in conjunction with improving upland water access and wetland protection to improve upland condition, protect vulnerable populations of Spalding’s Catchfly, protect cultural-use areas important to tribal gatherers and reduce fencing infrastructure that impedes wildlife movement and recreational access.
Objective 2 will investigate key variables influencing carbon cycling on rangelands through a combination of field-based measurements and ecological modeling. Comparative studies will be conducted across grazed and ungrazed sites to quantify differences in soil carbon stocks, vegetation biomass, and microbial activity. Seasonal variation will be assessed through repeated sampling and monitoring of carbon fluxes, including soil respiration and plant productivity, across multiple time points. Site and environmental variability will be captured using stratified sampling across diverse topographies, soil types, and climatic zones. Vegetation type will be characterized using botanical surveys and spectral analysis from satellite and UAV imagery to evaluate its role in carbon sequestration potential. Data will be integrated into spatially explicit models to better understand the interactions among grazing management, ecological conditions, and carbon dynamics, ultimately informing sustainable land use practices.
Objective 3 will assess and utilize existing precision technologies (e.g. RFID tags, UAVs, GIS systems/layers, precision supplementation systems, etc.) to provide land and livestock managers with the research and outreach they need to make informed decisions on use and incorporation of precision livestock agricultural management technologies.