Ranchers Use GPS Technology to Keep Track of Cattle Herds
August 19, 2010 by GPS Answers
Filed under gps comparison
Ranchers have to deal with large herds of animals on large parcels of land. Some time the land they are roaming can be upwards of a thousand acres. Finding a herd can be easy if the rancher owns a helicopter and does not mind the expense of flying around for hours searching them out. Using GPS tracking technology is one of the best ways of locating herds of cattle quickly and easily no matter where they are located on the property. This technology saves them time and a good amount of effort in finding herds that are ready to be moved to a new location.
Not only can herds of cattle be tracked, but those who own many horses can also keep track of each one through this same system. All it takes for either horses or cattle is to put a tracking chip underneath the skin of the animals and then they can be located by using a computer. Once the animals are found, they can be brought in the same way that they would normally be herded in. If one or two get away, they can be located just as quickly. This can save the ranchers an enormous amount of money on livestock. This system can make losing a herd for a day or two completely obsolete.
There is never going to be a chance for these animals to get away when they are chipped and can be tracked night or day. Some ranchers can check on their herds each night to see how far they have roamed in the day. This can make it easier for them to know when they should be moved to better pasture lands. If the animals are roaming well and are in areas where there is plenty of vegetation for them to eat, they can simply leave them where they are instead of roaming around looking for them to make sure that they are ok.
This is making it easier for ranchers to keep an eye on their livestock which is also their livelihood and their financial future. GPS positioning can allow them to know where the herd is at any time. No longer do they have to get a helicopter or ride out and search down the herds when it is time to bring them in. The money that is saved can be put to other uses and the ranchers are going to save a good deal of money each year.
