Victorian trial of virtual stock fencing technology underway ahead of potential rollout

A one-year trial of the New Zealand-based company’s controversial technology is underway in Victoria, giving farmers the opportunity to see it in action.

Halter collars in use in New Zealand PICTURE: SUPPLIED.

Victoria is trialling the use of virtual livestock fencing on a dairy herd at its Gippsland research farm ahead of considering its commercial rollout across the state.

A one-year trial has begun at Agriculture Victoria’s Ellinbank SmartFarm using New Zealand company Halter’s virtual fencing technology on 197 dairy cows.

The trial is being used to assess the controversial technology. Variations of it are already allowed in Tasmania, Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia, but legislation continues to prohibit its uptake across the rest of Australia.

Victoria’s Agriculture Minister Ros Spence would not be drawn on whether amending animal welfare legislation to allow for commercial use of virtual stock fencing was on her agenda, but she did reveal a trial of the technology was underway.

“Agriculture Victoria is demonstrating the use of the virtual fencing system from New Zealand based company Halter in a research setting at the Ellinbank SmartFarm, giving Victorian farmers the opportunity to see how this new technology works close to home,” she said.

New South Wales could be the next Australian state to make it legal for farmers to virtually fence their livestock.

A NSW government-led inquiry assessing whether legislation should be changed to allow for virtual stock fencing devices is underway, with report is due by late October.

At a hearing earlier this month, Halter said that uptake of its technology doubled last year across Tasmania – where it has been allowed since 2022 – and New Zealand, and was on track to double again this year.

Halter has developed a “smart collar” system for dairy and beef cows that enables farmers to virtually herd and fence their cattle, as well as monitor their physical welfare.

“Halter deeply cares about animal welfare and seeks to ensure virtual fencing and virtual herding products operate safely. With the introduction of this Bill, NSW has an opportunity to ensure that only virtual fencing and virtual herding systems incorporating robust animal welfare safeguards are introduced,” Halter chief executive Craig Piggott said.

But animal welfare organisations, including the RSPCA, maintain their objection to the collars due to the risks associated with the aversiveness of the electric shocks, and the variability of the magnitude of the shock.

The maximum strength of Halter’s collar “pulse” is 0.18 joules. This compares to a mains-powered electric fence, which delivers shocks ranging from 18 to 40 joules.

Emma Hurst MLC, representing the Animal Justice Party, is against amending animal welfare legislation to allow use of the technology in NSW.

NSW MP Emma Hurst, representing the Animal Justice Party, said the Bill was trying to wind back a basic protection against animal cruelty.

“The people of NSW have overwhelmingly rejected the use of aversive training methods in other industries – such as the use of shock collars for dogs – and the use of shock collars for farmed animals should be no exception,” Ms Hurst said.

“It is confusing to see a Bill that seeks to regress the state back to outmoded ways of thinking, under the guise of ‘technological advancement’.”

In Victoria, electronic collars can only be used for approved scientific purposes.