Victoria approves virtual fencing for farmers to control cattle with GPS collars
Specific regulations over how to use virtual fencing have been unveiled by the state government. See what farmers need to know.
Virtual fencing and herding technology will be available to Victorian farmers as soon as February next year, The Weekly Times can reveal.
Agriculture Minister Ros Spence announced on Wednesday new regulations under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 that will allow farmers to use collars with GPS and wireless technology to control cattle without physical fences.
The collars emit sounds and/or mild electrical pulses when an animal gets too close to a digital fence, with the animal learning to respond to the cues to avoid the boundaries.
The regulations include that an electronic collar system cannot be used on:
- Any animal other than cattle
- Any animal under the age of 6 months
- Any animal not contained within a physical fence, or other physical barrier.
Farmers who use such a system:
- Must set virtual boundaries that allow the animals to move away from the boundary without receiving an electric shock (e.g. a boundary with an acute angle could result in cattle being unable to move away from a virtual perimeter without receving an electric shock)
- Must ensure any changes to the boundary are gradual, allowing animals to become aware of and adapt to boundaries gradually.
Victoria joins Tasmania, Queensland and Western Australia in adopting the technology, while NSW and South Australia also have plans to implement their own respective regulations by the end of the year.
Victorian Farmers’ Federation president Brett Hosking said: “We’ve been working hard to get to this decision from the very beginning. Victoria’s livestock and dairy sector is poised to see productivity gains in excess of tens of millions of dollars and is now ready to step into the future.”
Victorian manufacturers can apply to Agriculture Victoria from Wednesday for their virtual fencing technology to be approved, with the first approvals expected in early February.
“We’re striking the right balance between farm productivity and animal welfare, and it’s clear that this technology provides great on-farm benefits for farmers across the state,” Ms Spence said.
“We’ve ensured we have appropriate safeguards in place to protect animal welfare, while enabling innovation. These new regulations and permit system provide the framework to achieve this.”
Two companies currently run virtual fencing and herding technology in Australia: the CSIRO-developed Gallagher eShepherd, and New Zealand-based company Halter.
Halter chief executive Craig Piggott said Victorian farmers will be delighted with the news.
“We have 100 farmers across Victoria and NSW already signed up to Halter, and we’ll now take the exciting step of working with them to bring virtual fencing to their farms,” he said.
South Gippsland dairy farmer Bruce Glasgow said virtual fencing would free up time for him.
“Huge advantages in labour savings, growing more grass and utilising more grass,” he said.
“The time spent strip grazing fences, walking behind cows for milking, I could better use my time than sitting on a quad bike.”
Agriculture Victoria undertook a trial of Halter’s virtual fencing technology on dairy cattle at its Ellinbank SmartFarm in Gippsland from July 2024 to May 2025, with cows adapting well to the system and milk yields remaining consistent with expectations.
Animal welfare organisations, including the RSPCA, have previously aired welfare concerns over the electric shock that the collars employ to herd livestock, and say the devices are “out of step with best practice animal training principles”.
In order to use the technology, farmers will need to use approved technologies, complete manufacturer training, maintain a physical boundary fence or barrier, and ensure collars are checked regularly.
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