Virtual fencing will be legalised in New South Wales and Victoria, enabling farmers to create internal boundaries and monitor the health of cattle
The New South Wales and Victorian governments have each announced that new regulations will be prepared to legalise virtual stock fencing across both states, providing landholders with a new effective way of herding cattle.
Virtual fencing is used to contain cattle without the need for physical internal fencing, instead using devices such as neck bands or collars that use GPS technology and sensory cues to manage their movement.
These devices can also monitor the activity, health and welfare of cattle.
Both state governments have engaged with key stakeholders and animal welfare organisations, with regulations set to be finalised by the end of the year.
NSW and Victoria will join the many other states nationally which have legalised virtual fencing and are already using the technology, including Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia and Tasmania.
NSW agriculture minister Tara Moriarty says the decision came after listening to the farming industry.
“These changes seek to reduce costs for farming and to enable agile paddock formation across land holdings to meet the needs of farmers while also protecting the welfare of cattle,” Moriarty says.
“The NSW government will work with both industry and animal welfare groups to ensure we get the right balance for delivering virtual fencing on farms.”
Victorian agriculture minister Ros Spence adds the state’s farmers have been looking to use this technology to improve productivity and safety.
“We’re making decisions to ensure farmers have the best technology up to date,” Spence says.
“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.”
Agriculture Victoria’s Ellinbank SmartFarm in Gippsland has been trialling the virtual fencing technology of New Zealand-based company Halter since July 2024, with research continuing to take place until June 30 this year, giving Victorian farmers the chance to experience first-hand this new technology close to home.
During the trial, dairy cattle at the SmartFarm have been fitted with solar powered smart collars that use electronic cues to contain the animals within a virtual fence and guide them to areas of the farm via a mobile phone app. It also allows farmers to monitor their cows’ location, health and reproductive status.
When the regulations come into place, NSW and Victorian farmers will no longer need to construct new or maintain existing fencing.
Halter has already provided many Australian farmers and farming businesses with its virtual fencing technology, including Tasmanian-based Woodrising Dairies.
In the field
Woodrising’s farm manager Troy Ainslie says the technology has brought a host of benefits, including increased safety when getting in the paddock, easier grazing management and the ability to monitor mating season.
“Halter’s smart collar virtual fencing technology has given us more control with much less work required,” he says.
“Everything is controlled on the Halter app, so we can move the cows around, set virtual boundary fences, change herds and change what mob the cows are in – all remotely.”
As the type of technology is introduced, both governments say they will ensure necessary safeguards for animal welfare, biosecurity and public safety are in place.
NSW Farmers animal welfare committee chair Rob McIntosh says the announcement to legalise virtual fencing was a sign of positive change on the horizon for many farmers.
“Across Australia and even the world, farmers are already making the most of virtual fencing, and it’s about time we do the same,” he says.
“This technology can save lives by helping move livestock to safe areas in floods, fires or other natural disasters, without putting humans or animals at risk.
“It can also help reduce fencing costs, control noxious weeds and help with a whole other host of things on-farm – there’s almost no boundaries to what this technology can do.”
McIntosh adds regulations must be introduced swiftly to ensure the technology could be rolled out, as it could also soon be extended for use on other livestock.
“These fences are a game changer for farmers, and we are excited about the opportunities they provide for livestock management,” he says.
“Enabling us to use this technology with cattle is a real leap forward, and we hope that the technology can be developed and rolled out for use with other livestock in the future.
“Tools like this will unlock productivity gains for our industry, so we can put more homegrown food on Aussie tables, more often.”
