Testing the fence: an invisible line that can’t be crossed

A virtual fence is an invisible line in the landscape that can be created on a digital map using GPS technology.

The technology manages grazing cattle behind a ‘virtual boundary’ that has been set via GPS by using audio and electrical cues, rather than physical fencing.

Pre-trial testing is being carried out to ensure the technology is working, and to familiarise project staff and a small herd of cattle with the system to ensure it’s running smoothly before the trial kicks off in the coming months.

An important first step is to ensure the technology has minimal behaviour and welfare impacts on livestock, while effectively containing them to a prescribed area. Cattle need to learn to interact with a virtual fence.

The first test was completed in November in 2023 and involved a small herd of 50 cattle to see how livestock interacted with a virtual fence. Since then, a range of testing and training programs have continued to put the technology through its paces before the trial was expanded.

This included observing how they responded to the collars audio and electrical stimuli.

Once an animal recognises that beep indicates the boundary, it’s similar to the principles of a normal electric fence, except there is an audio barrier rather than a visual, physical one. Collars produce an electrical cue to an animal if it’s too close to a virtual fenceline.

The initial test showed cattle were quick to learn to interact with a virtual fence – after several interactions, over a day or two.

The collars are being adapted to suit the hot, sweaty climate in northern Australia.

Getting the collar right

Four different neck band collars are being tested on 70 cattle to ensure the most suitable collar types are identified for long-term use, throughout the life of the five-year trial.

This pre-test is providing further opportunity to train cattle on the virtual fencing system and allow for additional observations of cattle behaviour.

Jarud Muller (DAF) and Nicole Bachmann (Gallagher) assembling virtual fencing collars. A range of different components are being tested to determine the most suitable for use in the long term trial.

This screenshot shows eight cattle from the herd of 50 as they test the virtual fence. The orange line indicates the virtual fence and it is successfully containing the herd. The light orange audio symbols indicate individual cattle hearing a beep when they get too close to the fence.

This screenshot shows an animal entering the virtually fenced paddock. Over the course of about 12 hours, it repeatedly tested the ‘fence’, receiving audible cues followed by a pulse. On the third attempt, it withdrew from the fence having learnt the audible cue led to a pulse from the invisible fence.

Using the new tool

The potential uses of virtual fencing are many and varied:

movement of stock for precise and automated grazing allocations;
temporary or permanent exclusion of cattle from specific locations; and
management of several mobs of cattle.

These applications can contribute positively to the sustainability and profitability of the northern beef industry by:

improving livestock health through better controlled pasture-based nutrition;
enhancing animal productivity and efficiencies by controlling livestock movement at a sub-herd level;
optimising the quantity and quality of homegrown feed-base without increased inputs
contributing to environment stewardship through the exclusion of livestock from waterways and sensitive areas .

Virtual fencing trial

NQ Dry Tropics will lead a trial into testing the efficacy of drought resilient grazing strategies in the Burdekin region.
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What’s monitored

The trial will be monitored to ensure the technology and practices are effective and to ensure the trial is responsive and applicable to graziers.
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Connecting the fence