How We Move 500 Cows Daily

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February 17, 2018

It would seem like a pretty daunting task to move 500 cows on a daily basis, but in reality cows are creatures of habit and get used to being moved daily. During the winter months we move our cows every day across our stockpiled pastures. They eagerly await to be moved every morning so they can get to new feed.

At Christmas I got a drone and enjoy flying over Sean when he is out moving the cows in the morning, so here is a short video of Sean rolling up the electric fence for the day and the cows eagerly awaiting their new pasture.

For those who enjoy the details: We management intensive graze our cattle during the winter months, meaning we move our cattle to new pasture everyday. Most ranches feed hay all winter to their cattle, which we used to do too, but we find that our cattle are much happier receiving "new" feed everyday even if it's stockpiled from the summer. By bunching our cattle together there is a much better distribution of manure over our pastures which is perfect for the spring when the grass starts growing, no need to use fertilizers! They also trample a lot of the feed which is just fine, because it adds organic matter to the soil making it more fertile and helps it to retain better moisture. Overall we have seen great improvements in our soils and cattle since we stopped feeding hay and move them every day during the winter months.

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Imagine the American West before fences. Endless grasslands stretched to the horizon, wide open and free. Livestock moved with the rhythm of the land, guided by skilled herders who understood how to work with nature—not against it. There were no steel posts, no wires, no grids—just animals, people, and a shared understanding of movement and timing. This was the original way of livestock management: intentional, responsive, and deeply in tune with the land. Fences, as we know them, are a relatively modern invention—useful, yes, but they’ve also made us more stationary and more separated from that old rhythm. At Cunningham Pastured Meats, we’ve found a way to return to those roots—while stepping into the future. We're excited to announce that we’re implementing virtual fencing through a company called Halter. Using GPS-enabled collars and gentle cues, Halter allows us to move animals exactly where we want them—no wire, no posts, no daily labor of setting up temporary fencing. Instead, we can offer fresh pasture every single day, ensuring the herd always has access to the cleanest, most nutrient-rich feed available. This also means animals no longer backtrack over soiled ground, which improves animal health, grazing efficiency, and soil vitality. What once took hours of manual fencing can now be done with a tap of a screen—giving us more time to focus on care, stewardship, and improving the land. See video of us putting collars on our cattle here<<<< Here’s what this means for you: Fresher feed = healthier animals and better quality meat.Daily movement mimics natural grazing, regenerating the land.Less stress, better welfare for the animals.Greater flexibility to adapt to weather, pasture conditions, and herd needs. This is a new chapter for us, and we’re excited to see where it leads. We’ll be learning as we go—and we’ll keep you updated as this journey with virtual fencing unfolds.

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How We Move 500 Cows Daily

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