From barbed wire to data: How AI is changing ranching in the American West

Cowboys in the American West are increasingly managing cattle not just from horseback, but from smartphones and with artificial intelligence . Why it matters: AI won’t be the end of cowboys. But AI-adjacent tools help fewer people manage more land, quietly redefining the job by turning cattle, fences and water systems into data streams.

The technology being marketed as “AI for ranching” uses GPS collars, algorithms and remote sensors to move herds, monitor water and rotate grazing as labor shortages, drought and wildfire pressure mount. How it works: Solar-powered smart GPS collars from the New Zealand-based company Halter guide cattle through virtual fences instead of barbed wire. Combined with mobile and cloud software, ranchers can view and adjust grazing areas and monitor animal locati