Fence of the future

UNL grad designs virtual fencing system that can do more than contain cattle without posts and wire

Janelle Atyeo
Dec 14, 2022
Dec 14, 2022

Virtual fence (2).JPG — Corral’s collars use solar power to charge the battery. They ideally have a two-year battery life. The goal, creator Jack Keating said, is to reduce the number of times a producer has to take the collars on or off.
Submitted photo

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Jack Keating grew up near Atkinson in north central Nebraska. As the youngest of three brothers, he often got the least desirable jobs.

kAm“x 8@E E:C65 @7 CF??:?8 76?46 2?5 7:I:?8 A@DE 9@=6D[” z62E:?8 D2:5]k^Am

kAmu2DE 7@CH2C5 E@ E@52J[ z62E:?8 :D E96 7@F?56C @7 2 4@>A2?J E92E’D 2==@H:?8 C2?496CD E@ 4@?E2:? E96:C 42EE=6 2?5 >@G6 7C@> A2DEFC6 E@ A2DEFC6 H:E9@FE 2? 24EF2= 76?46] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@CC2=E649]4@>^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmr@CC2= %649?@=@8:6Dk^2m @776CD G:CEF2= 76?4:?8 E92E FD6D v!$ E@ D6E 3@F?52C:6D] r2EE=6 H62C 4@==2CD E92E 366A 2?5 6>:E 2 D9@4< :7 E96 2?:>2= 2EE6>AED E@ 4C@DD E96 3@F?52CJ]k^Am

kAm“q6:?8 23=6 E@ 5@ 2?J 8C2K:?8 DJDE6> J@F H2?E E@ :D ?@H 762D:3=6[ 6G6? :7 J@F 92G6 @E96C ;@3D[ H9:49 >2?J C2?496CD 5@[” z62E:?8 D2:5]k^Am

kAm(:E9 76?46 =:?6D 5C2H? G:CEF2==J @? 2 D@7EH2C6 AC@8C2>[ C2?496CD 42? 5:G:56 E96:C A2DEFC6D 2?5 492?86 3@F?52C:6D H:E9@FE E96 A9JD:42= H@C< @FE @? E96 =2?5] xE’D 2 DJDE6> E92E 7:ED H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6IE6?D:@?]D5DE2E6]65F^7:G6\C2?86\>2?286>6?E\AC:?4:A=6D\@G6CG:6HQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmC@E2E:@?2= 8C2K:?8k^2m >6E9@5D H96C6 42EE=6 8C2K6 D>2==6C A255@4<D 2?5 >@G6 @7E6? :? 2? 677@CE E@ 3F:=5 D@:= ?FEC:6?ED 2?5 DE:>F=2E6 8C2DD 8C@HE9] w62=E9:6C A2DEFC6D 42? DFAA@CE >@C6 42EE=6]k^Am

kAm“%96 3:8 36?67:E :D :?4C62D:?8 ?F>36C @7 4@HD A6C 24C6[” z62E:?8 D2:5]k^Am

kAmp5;FDE:?8 A2DEFC6 D:K6D 2?5 :?4C62D:?8 DE@4<:?8 56?D:E:6D 6?4@FC286D 42EE=6 E@ 8C2K6 2C62D E96J >:89E EJA:42==J 2G@:5[ DF49 2D 2 324< 4@C?6C @C 2 9:89 9:== E96J >:89E 92G6 E@ H@C< E@ 86E E@]k^Am

kAm“%JA:42==J J@F 86E 2 >@C6 F?:7@C> FD6 24C@DD E96 A2DEFC6[” D2:5 |:E49 $E6A96?D@?[ C2?86 >2?286>6?E DA64:2=:DE 2?5 2DD@4:2E6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }63C2D<2\{:?4@=?’D !2?92?5=6 #6D62C49[ tIE6?D:@? 2?5 t5F42E:@? r6?E6C :? $4@EED3=F77]k^Am

kAm~G6C E96 =2DE J62C[ 96’D 366? H@C<:?8 H:E9 F?:G6CD:EJ C6D62C496CD E@ E6DE G:CEF2= 76?4:?8 DJDE6>D @? 23@FE d_ 9625 2E E96 vF5>F?5D6? $2?59:==D {23@C2E@CJ] %96J’C6 6G2=F2E:?8 9@H G:CEF2= 76?46 42? 96=A >2?286 8C2K:?8 :? H2JD E92E 36EE6C FE:=:K6 E96 8C2DD C6D@FC46D E96J 92G6[ $E6A96?D@? D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96J’G6 7@F?5 E92E E96 E649?@=@8J H@C<D[ 96 D2:5[ 2?5 96 D66D 2 7FEFC6 7@C :E[ 3FE C2?86=2?5 >2?286>6?E D<:==D 2C6 DE:== :>A@CE2?E]k^Am

kAm“xE’D ?6G6C 8@:?8 E@ E2<6 E96 A=246 @7 2 D<:==65 96C5D>2? E92E <?@HD 9@H E@ 8C2K6 9:D C2?86=2?5D[” $E6A96?D@? D2:5]k^Am

kAmw6 6?4@FC286D 2?J C2?496CD 4@?D:56C:?8 2 G:CEF2= 76?4:?8 DJDE6> E@ 4@?D:56C E96 4@DE @7 >2E6C:2= 2?5 =23@C @7 DE2?52C5 32C365 H:C6 76?46] %96C6’D E96 4@DE E@ >2:?E2:? E96 76?46 2?5 E96 H@C< :E H@F=5 E2<6 :7 E96 76?46 ?665D E@ 36 >@G65]k^Am

kAmpD H:E9 2?J ?6H E649?@=@8J[ D6EE:?8 FA 2 G:CEF2= 76?4:?8 DJDE6> 4@>6D H:E9 2 3:8 AC:46 E28] $@>6 4@>A2?:6D @776C 2 A24<286 E92E :?4=F56D 4@==2CD[ 2 32D6 E@H6C[ D:8?2= 3@@DE6CD 2?5 D@7EH2C6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3667]F?=]65F^3667H2E49^a_aa^E649?:42=\?@E6\H96C6\2C6\>J\42EE=6\TtaTg_Thb\A2CE\::\G:CEF2=\76?4:?8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 }63C2D<2\{:?4@=? q667 (2E49 2CE:4=6k^2m] $@>6 4@>6 H:E9 DF3D4C:AE:@? 766D[ >2:?E6?2?46 2?5 :?DE2==2E:@? 492C86D]k^Am

Virtual fence (1).JPG — Cattle wearing collars for the Corral Technologies virtual fencing system graze on pasture. The system allows ranchers to move fence lines virtually.
Submitted photo

kAmxE’D 366? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=:DE6?]D5A3]@C8^3FD:?6DD\64@?@>:4D^a_aa\_h\_f^G:CEF2=\76?4:?8\D2G6D\C2?496CD\42D9\2?5\:>AC@G6D\8C2DD=2?5Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmC6A@CE65 3J $@FE9 s2<@E2 !F3=:4 qC@2542DE:?8k^2m 2?5 @E96CD E92E 2?@E96C G:CEF2= 76?4:?8 4@>A2?J[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^G6?46]:@^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm'6?46k^2m[ 492C86D 23@FE S`_[___ 7@C E96 32D6 DE2E:@? E92E @A6C2E6D E96 v!$ DJDE6> 2?5 =62D6D 6249 4@==2C 7@C 23@FE Sbd A6C J62C] '6?46[ 2 r2=:7@C?:2 4@>A2?J[ :D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3FD:?6DDH:C6]4@>^?6HD^9@>6^a_aa_haa__dd_`^6?^|6C4<\p?:>2=\w62=E9\E@\p4BF:C6\'6?46Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm36:?8 24BF:C65 3J |6C4< p?:>2= w62=E9k^2m]k^Am

kAm%96 G:CEF2= DJDE6> 5@6D >@C6 E92? C6A=246 E96 A@DED 2?5 H:C6D @7 2? 24EF2= 76?46] %96 4@==2CD E92E 42EE=6 H62C 42? 2=D@ >@?:E@C 42EE=6 962=E9] z62E:?8 2?5 E96 r@CC2= E62> 2C6 H@C<:?8 E@ 4@==64E >@C6 962=E9 2?2=JE:4D – 56E6C>:?:?8 :7 2 4@H :D :? 962E 2E 3C665:?8 E:>6[ 7@C :?DE2?46[ @C DA@EE:?8 2 D:4< 42=7]k^Am

kAm(:E9 v!$ 23:=:E:6D[ C2?496CD 42? 4@==64E 52E2 @? H96C6 42EE=6 2C6 4@?8C682E:?8 2?5 >2<6 >2?286>6?E 564:D:@?D E@ 6?4@FC286 E96> E@ FD6 E96 H9@=6 A2DEFC6]k^Am

kAm“(6’C6 >2<:?8 DFC6 H6’C6 86EE:?8 E96 36DE 52E2 7@C E96>[” z62E:?8 D2:5]k^Am

kAm$E6A96?D@? 4@>A2C65 :E E@ E96 :?D:89ED 72C>6CD 82:? @? E96:C 7:6=5D 7C@> AC64:D:@? 72C>:?8 E649?@=@8:6D]k^Am

People are also reading…

Good cattle and a giving nature: Late cowboy to receive hall of fame honors
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
County school’s Easter parties created lasting memories
Rural America at its finest: fire relief efforts in Nebraska show best of humanity
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
Nebraska ranchers reel from fire losses
Rail merger would hurt farmers
From rose farms to rice fields, travel continues
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
Divine intent of creation respected
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
Iowa farmer sees new path for agriculture
With labor tight, incentives key to finding the right help
Seed, weeds and satellites at Commodity Classic
Social media talk burns my britches

kAm“pD >@C6 4@>A2?:6D 4@>6 @? 3@2C5 E96C6’D C62==J D@>6 A96?@>6?2= D4:6?46 2?5 E649?@=@8J 369:?5 E96D6 F?:E6D 2?5 H92E E96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 23=6 E@ AC@G:56[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm|@?:E@C:?8 42EE=6 962=E9 :D @?6 36?67:E] #2?496CD 42? 2=D@ 2AA=J AC64:D:@? >2?286>6?E E649?:BF6D E@ E96:C A2DEFC6D] ~G6CE:>6[ :E 42? 6?4@FC286 E96 8C@HE9 @7 >@C6 7@C286]k^Am

kAmu6?4:?8 @77 2C62D E@ 2==@H E96 8C2DD E@ C6DE 2?5 C64@G6C 96=AD 6?92?46 D@>6 D@:= 962=E9 >6EC:4D[ $E6A96?D@? D2:5]k^Am

kAm}@E @G6C8C2K:?8[ :?DE625 =62G:?8 C6D:5F2= 7@C286[ 42? 96=A 3F:=5 E96 D@:=’D 42A24:EJ E@ 9@=5 >@C6 H2E6C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ $@FE9 s2<@E2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ tIE6?D:@?[ H9:49 AFE @FE 2 D6C:6D @7 2CE:4=6D @? 7:G6 C2?86 >2?286>6?E AC:?4:A=6D E9:D 72==] q6EE6C >2?286>6?E 42? 96=A A2DEFC6D DE2?5 FA E@ 5C@F89E]k^Am

kAm“(6 42? 86E >@C6 52JD @FE @7 A2DEFC6[” z62E:?8 D2:5[ 255:?8 E92E E96 >@C6 E:>6 42EE=6 DA6?5 8C2K:?8 EC2?D=2E6D E@ ?@E 92G:?8 E@ 3FJ D@ >F49 6IA6?D:G6 92J E@ 7665 E9C@F89 E96 H:?E6C >@?E9D]k^Am

kAmz62E:?8’D 72>:=J CF? `d_ 9625 @? E96:C 9@>6 A=246 :? w@=E r@F?EJ[ }63C2D<2] w6 C6>6>36CD H96? 96 H2D J@F?86C =:DE6?:?8 E@ 9:D 525 A@?56C H9J E96J 925 :?G:D:3=6 76?46D 7@C 5@8D 3FE ?@E 7@C 42EE=6] xE’D 2 BF6DE:@? E92E DEF4< H:E9 E96 J@F?8 C2?496C[ 3FE 96 D2:5 96 H2D?’E 23@FE E@ DE2CE 5:88:?8 5:E496D E@ 3FCCJ 2? :?G:D:3=6 76?46 =:?6 =:<6 E96 DJDE6> 7@C A6ED C6BF:C6D]k^Am

Virtual fence (4).JPG — A virtual fencing system can help divide pastures for more intensive grazing, helping utilize areas that cattle otherwise ignore. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is testing one type of system at their Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory.
Submitted photo

kAmw:D D49@@=:?8 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }63C2D<2\{:?4@=? 96=A65 3F:=5 9:D E649?:42= 324<8C@F?5 E@ 6IA=@C6 G:CEF2= 76?4:?8 D@=FE:@?D] w6 DE2CE65 56G6=@A:?8 r@CC2= 367@C6 96 8C25F2E65 :? a_a_ H:E9 2 568C66 :? >6492?:42= 6?8:?66C:?8]k^Am

kAm$E2CE:?8 H:E9 5@8 4@==2CD E@ AC@G6 @FE D@>6 @7 9:D BF6DE:@?D[ 9:D AC@;64E H6?E 7C@> ;FDE 2 56G:46 E@ 2 DJDE6> E92E <66AD 4@HD :? 2 76?46] %92E 492?865 H96? r@CC2= H2D 2446AE65 :?E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?63C2D<24@>3:?6]4@>^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm%96 r@>3:?6 :?4F32E@C AC@8C2>k^2m 7@C }63C2D<2 3FD:?6DD6D]k^Am

kAm“%92E’D H96C6 E96 24EF2= 3FD:?6DD E@@< @77[” 96 D2:5] “(6 DE2CE65 3F:=5:?8 2 3FD:?6DD :?DE625 @7 3F:=5:?8 bs >@56=D]”k^Am

kAmx? pAC:= a_a`[ r@CC2= H2D E96 8C2?5 AC:K6 H:??6C 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }63C2D<2\{:?4@=?’D qFD:?6DD !:E49 tG6?E] r@>A6E:?8 H:E9 >@C6 E92? d_ @E96C E62>D[ r@CC2= E@@< E96 E@A AC:K6 @7 Sad[___] %92E 2H2C5 =625 E@ 2 }63C2D<2 x??@G2E:@? uF?5 !C@E@EJA6 vC2?E 7C@> E96 DE2E6 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t4@?@>:4 s6G6=@A>6?E]k^Am

kAm%9:D A2DE DF>>6C r@CC2= H@C<65 H:E9 E9C66 C2?496CD 24C@DD }63C2D<2 E@ E6DE E96 DJDE6> :? 5:776C6?E 6?G:C@?>6?E 2?5 H:E9 5:776C6?E 286D @7 4@HD] xE 96=A65 DAFC D@>6 >2;@C :>AC@G6>6?ED E@ E96 4@==2CD E96 42EE=6 H62C]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]28FA52E6]4@>^=:G6DE@4<C@F?5FA^?6HD^=:G6DE@4<^G:CEF2=\76?46\D9@HD\AC@>:D6\7@C\C@E2E:@?2=\8C2K:?8^2CE:4=60c_g4bfe6\e__6\``63\22fc\e7b`gg66b24g]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmr2EE=6 42? 36 AC6EEJ C@F89 H:E9 E96:C ?64<H62Ck^2m[ 2?5 E96J’C6 6IA@D65 E@ E96 6=6>6?ED] {:<6 H:E9 2?J H62C23=6 E649?@=@8J AFE @? 2?:>2=[ 7C@> 4@==2CD E@ 62C E28D[ D@>6E:>6D E96J 3C62<[ 72== @77 @C D9@CE @FE[ $E6A96?D@? D2:5 @7 E96:C 6IA6C:6?46 @? E96 vF5>F?5D6? #2?49]k^Am

kAmr@CC2=’D 4@==2CD 2C6 56D:8?65 E@ 25;FDE E@ E96 D:K6 @7 E96 2?:>2=’D ?64< 2?5 92G6 2 4@F?E6CH6:89E E@ <66A E96> 7C@> 7=:AA:?8 @G6C] %96J’C6 7:EE:?8 H:E9 D@=2C A2?6=D E92E <66A E96 32EE6CJ A@H6C 492C865] xE’D 56D:8?65 E@ =2DE EH@ J62CD[ :562==J]k^Am

kAm“~FC 8@2= :D E@ C65F46 E96 2>@F?E @7 E:>6 DA6?E :? 2 49FE6 >6DD:?8 2C@F?5 H:E9 E9:D[” z62E:?8 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 4@==2CD 4@F=5 36 AFE @? 2E 42=G:?8 @C AC68 4964<:?8[ 96 D2:5[ 2?5 “J@F’== 36 23=6 E@ ?@E E@F49 E92E 56G:46 7@C EH@ J62CD]”k^Am

kAm%96 4@==2CD 6>:E 2 D@F?5 H96? E96 2?:>2= 86ED 4=@D6 E@ 2 G:CEF2= 76?46 3@F?52CJ] x7 E96J 86E 4=@D6C[ :E H:== 8:G6 @77 >@C6 D@F?5[ 2?5 :7 E96J 86E 4=@D6C E@ E96 =:?6 DE:==[ :E H:== 8:G6 2 D9@4<]k^Am

kAm“~?46 E96J’C6 EC2:?65[ E96J H:== C6DA@?5 E@ D@F?5 >@DE @7 E96 E:>6[” z62E:?8 D2:5]k^Am

kAmr2EE=6 2E E96 vF5>F?5D6? #2?49 =62C?65 C2E96C BF:4<=J E@ 2DD@4:2E6 E92E D@F?5 H:E9 2 D9@4< 2?5 DE@A 2E E96 32CC:6C 367@C6 2 D9@4< :D 6>:EE65[ $E6A96?D@? D2:5] p?5 H96? 76?46 3@F?52C:6D 492?86[ :E 5@6D?’E E2<6 >F49 E:>6 7@C E96 2?:>2=D E@ =62C? E96J 42? >@G6 A2DE E92E 32CC:6C[ 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmr@CC2= 4@==2CD 2C6 56D:8?65 E@ 8:G6 DE:>F=2E:@? 7C@> E96 =67E 2?5 C:89E D:56D[ >2<:?8 :E A@DD:3=6 E@ DE66C E96 42EE=6 E@ H96C6 E96J D9@F=5 36]k^Am

kAmz62E:?8 H:== 36 H@C<:?8 E9C@F89 E96 H:?E6C E@ E6DE E96 =2E6DE G6CD:@? @7 r@CC2= 4@==2CD] w6 A=2?D E@ C@== @FE a[___ 56G:46D E@ C2?496CD :? <6J DE2E6D ?6IE DAC:?8]k^Am

kAm%@ :?BF:C6 23@FE E96 AC@;64E[ z62E:?8 D2:5 C2?496CD D9@F=5 G:D:E 9:D H63D:E6[ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^4@CC2=E649]4@>Qm4@CC2=E649]4@>k^2m[ H96C6 E96J 42? 6?E6C E96:C 4@?E24E :?7@C>2E:@? @? E96 U=5BF@jH2:E=:DEUC5BF@j A286] z62E:?8 D2:5 96 H:== 42== E96> A6CD@?2==J E@ E2=< 23@FE AC6\@C56C:?8]k^Am

Janelle is editor of the Tri-State Neighbor, covering South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, northwestern Iowa and northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at jatyeo@tristateneighbor.com or follow on Twitter @JLNeighbor.