This technology will help farmers to save on the cost of building and maintaining cattle fencing through smart, real-time technology.
Halter’s P5 system features a collar connected to an app, allowing farmers to virtually fence, move and monitor wellbeing of their cows while receiving real-time insights into animal health and pasture conditions.
Farmers can virtually fence around waterways and sensitive land or vegetation, while still allowing native animals to access them, promoting faster pasture recovery, healthier riparian zones and reduced reliance on fertiliser.
The technology has been approved following animal welfare testing at the Ellinbank SmartFarm.
Agriculture Victoria said approvals were reliant on accurate record keeping and reporting, use of approved technology, training provided by the manufacturer, maintaining physical boundary fences or barriers and ensuring collars are checked regularly.
This technology is now available for purchase, with other Victorian manufacturers encouraged to apply so that more virtual fencing technology can be approved. A second application is currently being considered.
Electronic collars for livestock species other than cattle can only be used when a scientific licence has been granted under Victorian law, and the use approved by an animal ethics committee.
Halter founder and chief executive Craig Piggott said the announcement was an exciting day for Victorian farmers, who could now access world-leading virtual fencing and herding technology for dairy and beef.
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