Victoria Pioneers Virtual Fencing for Cattle
The Victorian government has announced new regulations to support the deployment of virtual fencing for cattle, aligning with other states across Australia. Currently, Victoria and South Australia are the only states yet to legalize this technology, which employs wireless electronic collars that emit sounds and deliver pulses to guide cattle.
The government's decision to proceed with regulations, revealed on ABC's Victorian Country Hour, has been well received by dairy farmers, long advocating for the technology. According to Agriculture Minister Ros Spence, "I'm convinced that Victorian farmers should have the option to use virtual fencing and herding technology if they choose to." She emphasized the potential benefits, including improved productivity, better pasture and grazing management, reduced need for physical fences, and decreased work-related safety hazards.
Victoria is vital to Australia's dairy industry, with over two-thirds of its operations based there. The virtual fencing technology uses GPS-enabled collars, enabling farmers to determine boundaries via a phone app or computer. As indicated by Dairy Farmers Victoria president Mark Billing, this development is a "game changer" that provides Victorian farmers with parity with interstate producers. "Once the technology is on board, there are a lot of things farmers can do to manage their farm better," he stated.
The implementation follows extensive industry engagement and research into the animal welfare impacts of the technology. New Zealand-based company Halter, a supplier, claims the pulses are "100 times weaker" than traditional electric fences. Halter's strategic relations vice president, Charlie Baker, highlighted additional welfare benefits such as continuous tracking of animals' location, health, and fertility status.
To implement this, Victoria will need to amend current animal cruelty laws regarding shock collars. The federal Department of Agriculture is also developing national guidelines for consistent regulation.
