Victoria gives virtual fencing the go ahead
The Victorian Government has agreed to roll out virtual fencing for cattle producers and will draft regulations by the end of this year.
The Victorian Government has finally joined other states allowing cattle producers to use virtual fencing.
Agriculture Minister Ros Spence has announced the government will draft regulations by the end of the year, in consultation with farmers and animal welfare groups, which allow the rollout of the technology.
“We know that Victorian farmers are looking to use virtual fencing and herding technology to improve productivity and farmer safety, which is why we’re making decisions to ensure farmers have the best technology up to date,” Ms Spence said.
“It is critical that we have appropriate safeguards in place to protect animal welfare, while enabling innovation on farms and these new regulations will provide a framework to achieve this.”
Virtual fencing technology was originally developed by CSIRO in 2005 and commercialised by Kiwi tech company Halter in 2017, using GPS-enabled collars fitted to cattle that emit sound, vibrate or deliver mild electric pulses to teach cattle to avoid virtual fences, which farmers can create and move metre by metre using an app on their mobile phones.
A government trial of Halter’s virtual fencing technology at Agriculture Victoria’s Ellinbank SmartFarm in Gippsland will continue until June 30 – giving farmers the chance to visit and see the technology first hand.
United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Bernie Free said “I’m not sure why it has taken the Allan Government so long to do this, but it’s great news.
“It will be a game changer,” Mr Free said.
“Hopefully it means we start using it soon after Christmas.”
While dairy farmers are likely to be the first adopters of the technology, Victorian Farmers Federation livestock group president Scott Young said it would have huge benefits for other cattle producers.
“As the technology rolls out farmers will adapt to it, finding new ways to strategically graze,” Mr Young said.
“It has huge environmental benefits, to manage grass cover in tough times. It means you can lock out areas when you’re facing challenging times - like now.”
Halter spokesperson Charlie Baker said “Victorian farmers have been demanding virtual fencing for years - this technology will boost productivity, making farms more efficient and more profitable.
“Hundreds of Victorian dairy and beef farmers have already registered with Halter. We are delighted to soon be serving these farmers.”
In the meantime Agriculture Victoria is contributing to the development of an Australian Animal Welfare Guide for Virtual Fencing, a project led by the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
The guide aims to support a consistent regulatory approach across states and territories, while ensuring optimal animal welfare outcomes where virtual fencing is used.
The herding and pasture management technology is already widely used across Tasmania, Queensland, New Zealand, and the US, with planning underway for a rollout in New South Wales and South Australia.
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