NSW approves virtual fencing on farms
Farmers in the Australian state of New South Wales will soon be able to use virtual fencing and herding technology to boost farm productivity.
The company claims it’s a world first and a big deal, for several reasons.
Halter business manager Steve Crowhurst says farmers have never before been able to seamlessly, and remotely, “ask 20 cows to walk out of a paddock”.
The company says cows are drafted, or separated, for a number of reasons, namely springers, heat or sickness.
Traditional drafting is typically managed via an auto drafting system built into the exit of the cowshed.
“It’s costly, involves building infrastructure, isn’t foolproof, and the system dates quickly.”
In contrast, the company says its system is managed via a smartphone and with a simple swipe, can be easily and instantly updated with new features.
Farmers can shift cows between breaks at times they pre-programme on the app.
The app also allows farmers to view their herds, as well as track and locate herds remotely. Also, the ability to separate cows in the paddock means farmers can care for them at an individual level.
“They might need extra feed, they might need to be assessed for lameness, or they might need to be artificially inseminated during mating,” says Crowhurst.
“Whatever it is they need, this technology opens up a multitude of new ways for farmers to care for their stock in ways that were previously impossible.
“Farmers can now select and move specific girls away from the mob any time of the day. Essentially, they can run their farm how they want.”
The system is now on farms across the country, including Fraser Hasnip’s dairy farm in the Waikato.
“The new feature is huge for me,” says Hasnip.
“Drafting calving cows out of the springer mob no longer is a game of bullrush with a break fence in a paddock. I no longer lug around reels and standards and need loads of people to help.
“I can manage everything on my own without the extra stress to me and the cows.
“It’s such a seamless way to farm.”
