These Smart Cattle Collars Just Got Starlink, and Ranchers Are Obsessed

Halter has announced the launch of Starlink’s direct-to-satellite connectivity for its smart cattle collars. This technology removes the requirement for on-ranch infrastructure or cell towers, allowing ranchers to manage their herds from any location with a clear view of the sky.

The update significantly expands the reach of virtual fencing. Internal modelling from the company suggests this satellite capability increases its potential coverage of the U.S. beef cattle market by 2.5 times. Previously, the solar-powered collars required proprietary radio towers to communicate. Now, the devices connect directly to the cloud.

“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.”

The launch coincides with a major software upgrade that includes heat detection tools for breeding, behaviour monitoring for grazing and rumination, and satellite-based forage insights to track animal demand. These features are designed to help operations manage labour shortages and rising fuel costs by reducing the need for physical oversight.

Lloyd Calvert, a manager at High Lonesome Ranch in Colorado, has been using the system across 225,000 acres. “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 any time of day, no matter where I am. It gives me a great deal of assurance and that’s irreplaceable.”

The satellite-enabled collars are available now for beef operations in the United States and New Zealand, with plans to expand into Canada and Australia soon.