The Victorian Government has approved the use of new virtual fencing technology in what is a first for the state.
Victorian Minister for Agriculture, Ros Spence said the technology will help farmers to save on the cost of building and maintaining cattle fencing through smart, real-time technology.
The Halter’s P5 electronic collar system is the first to be approved in Victoria for virtual fencing.
“We’ve heard from many farmers using various forms of virtual fencing, and it was clear that the technology made a significant difference to the health of their stock, their pastures and their workloads,” said Minister Spence.
Halter’s P5 system features a collar connected to an app, allowing farmers to virtually fence, move and monitor wellbeing of their cows while receiving real-time insights into animal health and pasture conditions.
Farmers can virtually fence around waterways and sensitive land or vegetation, while still allowing native animals to access them, promoting faster pasture recovery, healthier riparian zones and reduced reliance on fertiliser.
“This is an exciting day for Victorian farmers, who can now access world-leading virtual fencing and herding technology for dairy and beef,” said CEO and Founder of Halter, Craig Piggott.
“We’re really grateful to Minister Spence and the Victorian Government. This is obviously an exciting change, and I think this shows their support of agriculture and the sector – so we’re excited to get going.”
The technology has been approved following rigorous animal welfare testing at the Ellinbank SmartFarm.
Approvals are reliant on accurate record keeping and reporting, use of approved technology, training provided by the manufacturer, maintaining physical boundary fences or barriers and ensuring collars are checked regularly.
This technology is now available for purchase, with other Victorian manufacturers encouraged to apply so that more virtual fencing technology can be approved. The Minister confirmed a second application is currently being considered.
Electronic collars for livestock species other than cattle can only be used when a scientific licence has been granted under the POCTA Act, and the use is approved by an Animal Ethics Committees.
