Halter Smart Cattle Collars Go Direct-To-Satellite Expanding Virtual Fencing To Remote Ranches

by Clarence Oxford
Boulder CO, US (SPX) Apr 29, 2026
Halter has become the first virtual fencing provider to deliver direct-to-satellite connectivity through its smart cattle collars, eliminating the need for cell towers or on-ranch radio infrastructure and opening the technology to large, remote operations across millions of acres previously beyond the reach of connected cattle management systems.

The Boulder, Colorado-based company uses Starlink to enable its solar-powered, GPS-enabled collars to communicate directly with satellites, bypassing ground-based towers entirely. Until now, Halter's collars relied on the company's own proprietary long-range radio network. The shift to satellite connectivity means ranchers can manage herds anywhere they have a clear view of the sky.

Halter's internal modelling estimates the direct-to-satellite capability expands coverage of the US beef cattle market by 2.5x, unlocking viability for expansive and rugged operations that connectivity constraints had previously excluded.

"Connectivity has been the final barrier to bringing virtual fencing across remote and expansive ranches," said Craig Piggott, CEO and founder of Halter. "Direct-to-satellite allows ranchers to manage hundreds of thousands of acres in the most remote terrain on the planet. Combined with our new suite of product features, these ranchers can be even more productive."

Lloyd Calvert, livestock and agriculture manager at High Lonesome Ranch in western Colorado, is among the first to deploy the satellite-enabled system across 225,000 acres of complex terrain.

"Halter has changed the game completely," said Calvert. "Satellite unlocks the ability to run very remote country while still seeing what the cattle are doing, without needing someone with them all the time. We call ourselves Halter junkies now because we can check to see where the cows are anytime of day, no matter where I am. It gives me a great deal of assurance and that's irreplaceable."

Alongside the satellite launch, Halter announced its largest-ever product upgrade for beef cattle ranchers. The update includes an all-in-one heat detection tool to identify cycling animals before and during breeding, behavioral monitoring providing near real-time insight into grazing, rumination, and other indicators of cattle performance, and a suite of advanced pasture and grazing features. Those features include satellite-based forage insight, grazing plans and templates, tools to calculate and track animal demand, and comprehensive grazing records.

The technology addresses mounting pressures facing beef ranchers in remote regions, including rising fuel costs, labor shortages, and an aging workforce. Virtual fencing through Halter's collars replaces the need for physical fencing installation and maintenance, which averages around $20,000 per mile for conventional fencing, while also reducing the need for hands-on herd management.

Halter's solar-powered collars combine virtual fencing, active herd guidance, and real-time animal monitoring in a single device. The company has sold more than one million collars worldwide and serves more than 2,000 customers across the United States, New Zealand, and Australia. It is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, with operations in Melbourne and Colorado.