Real-World Case Studies

Technology in action at ranches and feedlots

Health Monitoring

Kirkland Feedyard - SenseHub Feedlot

Vega, Texas | Owner: Robby Kirkland

Technology Used

SenseHub Feedlot ear tag health monitoring system

Implementation: 9+ months as of late 2025

Key Results

  • +60% Pull-to-dead ratio improvement
  • • LED-illuminated tags for easy identification
  • • Earlier disease detection, improved treatment outcomes
"We started talking with pen riders months before we started using these new tags. We wanted to be sure everyone understood that this is a tool to help our customers. Once the tags were here, there were no surprises by any of us."
— Robby Kirkland
Academic Research

Oklahoma Feedyard Study - SenseHub vs. Traditional

Commercial feedyard in Oklahoma | Controlled study

71%

Reduction in labor for pen riders

Lower

BRD mortality in monitored group

More

Total sellable pounds

Study Design

Controlled comparison through 60 days on feed and at closeout: SenseHub-monitored group vs. traditional pen rider observation only.

Key Finding: SenseHub can identify at-risk cattle before clinical signs appear, enabling earlier intervention than traditional visual observation.

Virtual Fencing

Ted Miller Dairy - Halter Virtual Fencing

~700 head dairy | Owner: Ted Miller

Implementation Timeline

  • • April 2024: Milking herd collared
  • • July 2024: Bred heifers added
  • Within 24 hours: Cattle respected virtual boundaries
  • End of first week: Completing shifts with no human intervention

Benefits Achieved

  • ✓ Slower grazing rotations with improved paddock utilization
  • ✓ More acres set aside for baleage production
  • ✓ Removed many physical cross-fences
  • ✓ Heat detection for open cows
  • ✓ Early health issue identification
"A powerful tool in manipulating the placement of grazing cattle... operating grazing management at a level that was previously unachievable."
— Ted Miller
Virtual Fencing Pilot

Dan Reinke Ranch - Halter Pilot

Sheridan County, Wyoming | Partner: Sheridan Community Land Trust

One of the first US producers to trial Halter technology. This pilot helped establish Halter's US expansion, which has now grown to ranches in 22 states.

Identified Benefits

"Labor savings, cost savings, all across the board" — potential demonstrated for US beef cattle context

Solo Operation

Solo Kansas Rancher - Halter

Kansas | Solo-operated cattle ranch

+35 lbs

Added to every calf through better grazing

Lower

Veterinary costs through early detection

Proven

Viable for single-operator ranches

Significance: Demonstrates that advanced technology is accessible and beneficial even for the smallest operations.

Hill Country

New Zealand Hill Country Farm - Halter

Hill country beef farm, New Zealand | Challenging terrain

Stocking rate increase on hill country

89%

From 9.5 to 18 stock units

• Virtual boundaries drawn across steep hills that were previously unfenceable

• Reclaimed pasture that was underutilized due to fencing constraints

"We've gone from 9 and a half stock units to 18 stock units effectively on our hills. That is a real game changer for our farm, and we see it as a game changer for lots of hill country around New Zealand."
Animal Welfare

New Zealand Dairy - Lameness Reduction

Dairy farm, New Zealand | Cow flow management

50%

Reduction in lameness

70+ min

Daily Halter usage

20+ hrs

Weekly labor savings

Key Insight

The animal welfare benefits come from allowing cattle to move voluntarily rather than being herded, reducing stress and physical strain. Cows walk at their own pace instead of being pushed.

Key Takeaways for Small Ranchers

Technology Documented Benefit Typical Timeframe Best For
SenseHub Feedlot 60%+ improvement in pull-to-dead ratio, 71% labor reduction 2-6 months Feedlot operations, high-density scenarios
Halter Virtual Fencing 24-hour cattle adaptation, 20+ hrs/week labor savings 1-4 weeks Rotational grazing, hill country, labor-constrained
Health Monitoring (General) Early disease detection (2-3 days before visual symptoms) Immediate All operations prioritizing animal health
Virtual Fencing (General) 50%+ stocking rate increase possible, eliminated fence labor 1-12 months Difficult terrain, cross-fencing needs

Animal Welfare Note

Independent research from the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture found no increase in stress for cattle managed with Halter compared to traditional methods using electric fences and stockpeople. Ranchers consistently report calmer animals with virtual fencing systems.

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