Virtual fencing has been given the green light in Victoria, with Halter’s P5 electronic collar system on Wednesday becoming the first technology approved for use in the state.
The approval was announced at evokeAG in Melbourne by Victorian Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence, who said the decision would help farmers access the latest innovations for beef and dairy production.
“We’re making it easier for farmers to care for their herds and to deliver high quality beef and dairy produce to Victorian families,” Ms Spence said. “This approval makes sure Victorian farmers have access to the latest innovative technology.”
Halter’s system uses a solar-powered smart collar on each animal, connectivity towers and an app that allows farmers to virtually fence, shift and monitor cattle remotely. Cows are guided using sound, vibration and electric cues.
Halter CEO and founder Craig Piggott said the approval opened the door for Victorian producers who had been waiting to use the technology.
“This is an exciting day for Victorian farmers, who can now access world-leading virtual fencing and herding technology for dairy and beef,” Mr Piggott said.
“We’ve had a waitlist of Victorian farmers keen to use Halter, and can now begin deploying collars and training cows.”
Halter reported more than 100 Victorian farmers were registered and ready to go, with collars currently stored outside the state due to previous restrictions.
It will be all systems go now to get infrastructure installed and cattle trained.
The Victorian Government said other manufacturers were encouraged to apply, with a second virtual fencing application currently under consideration.
Virtual fencing is currently allowed in Tasmania and New South Wales, newly permitted in South Australia (subject to required licences and permits), and approved in Western Australia, where Halter also hopes to be licensed to operate in 2026.
Skye, Jody, Nate and Adam Turner of Springhill Beef Co, fitting a Halter unit onto one of their cows. Pic: Supplied
New South Wales beef producer Adam Turner, of Springhill Beef Co in the Hunter Valley, NSW, said he moved quickly after NSW approved virtual fencing last year and become one of the first operations in the state to be hooked up.
“We went pretty deep into it,” Mr Turner said. “As soon as it was announced it was going to be approved, we reached out.”
Springhill Beef Co, which has a long history of adopting ag tech like online buying and selling on AuctionsPlus, implemented the Halter system on its first property last December and expanded it to a second property last week.
“The second day we moved the temporary fence, they (cattle) were already pulling away from it,” Mr Turner said. “It’s remarkable how quickly they learn.”
For a business managing 1,500 acres across one property alone, it has been transformative.
“It makes it so easy,” Mr Turner said “Normally at Christmas, we’d just open up a big paddock and let them go because we’re away. Now we can still move them daily and still check them daily. We can keep implementing our grazing plan properly.”
Mr Turner said one of the most noticeable outcomes was a change in cattle temperament.
“A lot of the NZ data showed temperament and stress levels went down after virtual fencing,” Mr Turner said. “We’re seeing the same thing.”
He said cattle quickly associated the vibration cue with fresh pasture, rather than linking people, dogs or vehicles with pressure.
“The vibration means food,” Mr Turner said.
Mr Turner said the system had also reduced labour and yard work, allowing cattle to be drafted into separate mobs digitally and shifted remotely as part of an intensive grazing program.
“You can select the numbers you want and draft them out digitally,” he said.
He said the technology had also made it easier to graze steep or difficult country that previously wasn’t worth fencing or accessing on foot.
Since implementing the system, he said interest from other farmers had been strong.
“A lot of people are ringing us. There’s a lot of interest in this tech and how it could work in our area.”
After this week's announcement, he's likely to be copping a lot more calls from down south.