THE Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has welcomed the partnership between Agriculture Victoria and Halter in trialling the use of virtual fencing technology at the government’s Ellinbank Smartfarm. 

VFF President Emma Germano said the move was a forward step towards making the technology accessible to Victorian farmers.

“This year the VFF has been engaged in direct discussions with the Minister for Agriculture to progress the use of virtual fencing technology on Victorian farms,” she said.

“The VFF has been encouraging the Victorian Government to work on the regulations that will be required to enable its use commercially.

Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory already have the ability to use virtual fencing, as well as in international benchmarks such as New Zealand, the UK, Canada, and the USA.”

Ms Germano said virtual fencing would bring great benefits to Victoria.

“Virtual fencing has a broad application across the livestock sectors but will also provide substantial benefit for our dairy industry.

“It will save farmers’ time, improve safety outcomes for farm workers, better manage pastures and improve environmental outcomes.

“This is productivity boosting technology that Victoria needs.” 

A national approach

One way of overcoming the inconsistencies between states would be a national animal welfare code, which could pave the way for virtual fencing across Australian farming businesses.

Each state has its own animal welfare code and while virtual fencing is allowed in other states, it is outlawed in Victoria and South Australia.

Dairy Australia principal scientist, Dr John Penry, said a study completed in 2021 into virtual fencing funded by the Australian dairy levy with other government support was positive about the technology.

“The research work on balance was favourable about the technology,” he said.

“Dairy Australia’s role is to point to the evidence base and that four-year study is still relevant.

“Whilst today’s technology might be a slightly differently designed collar, the premise for how it works is still the same.

“Based on overseas and Australian studies and experiences, it’s a reasonable thing to look at as an option.

“Unfortunately, animal welfare codes differ between states.

“Presently any virtual herding technology relies on an electrical pulse and audible warning.

“This technology can be used in other states but not Victoria and South Australia because it doesn’t fit within their animal welfare codes.”

Is it a good investment on my farm? 

With support from the DemoDAIRY Foundation, mid last year several South-west Victorian dairy farmers undertook a study tour to New Zealand to learn about the potential benefits of virtual fencing to manage herd grazing and movement.

One of the farm consultants leading the South West Farm Business Discussion Group, Angus Drummond, said there was a lot of interest in a farm using a Halter collar app for virtual fencing, prompting a suggestion to lobby the State Government to allow their use in Victoria.

Mr Drummond said the collars had reinvigorated the farmer’s interest in the herds and pasture management.

“The app allows for pasture allocation and as the area is drawn into the app, it shows the pasture kgDM/cow allocated and the rotation length the herd will be on,” he said.

“The farmer can review the grazed area throughout the day and allocate more feed if required without needing to run a new strip fence.”

Timboon farmers and SW FBDG participants Matt and Renee Whitehead, who were supported by DemoDAIRY Foundation to join the tour, said it was a real eye-opener.

“It got us thinking about the impact government regulations can have on farming for better or worse,” Mrs Whitehead said.

“We wanted to see different farming systems and how they are managed, and it was interesting to learn about the Halter collars.”

Mr Whitehead said he had been following the Halter collars for a couple of years.

“It was nice to see them at work,” he said.

“We could save a heap of labour by using them.”

They would support a push to the State Government to legalise their use in Victoria.

“The cows respected the collars, and the farmers respected what was expected of the cows,” Mr Whitehead said.

Like any new technology though, the issue will be the initial cost in implementing the program in Australia, and whether this stacks up financially on farm.

One local farmer who has obtained a quote notes the current upfront cost and ongoing yearly software fees would make the new technology cost prohibitive, even if the animal welfare concerns were not an issue. 

Others (such as the Whiteheads, above) can see the value, despite the relatively high ongoing cost.

The subscription fee would likely be around $60,000 per year for your average 300 cow dairy farm (just for the milking herd), with little in the way of upfront cost.

For some the data obtained, labour saved and the ability to precision graze would see enough efficiencies to justify the monthly ongoing expense.

Like all new technology, the return on investment is business specific, and can be dependent on a lot of factors; eg the current level of pasture utilisation.

For some businesses they may be utilising their homegrown feed well, and only have a possible two per cent improvement to make. For others that could mean 25 per cent better grass utilisation, and this would make the Halter system a no-brainer as far as investments go.