Virtual fencing technology proving its worth on North Canterbury farm

• Published date: 01 February 2023
• Publication title: Central Rural Life

CULVERDEN farmer Emlyn Francis likes to call the GPS-controlled collars on his dairy cows the way of the future

As he strolls towards a collar-wearing mob lounging around a water tank, he points to distant fence lines.

They’ve been made nearly redundant by the virtual technology, which is being taken up by a small, but growing group of farmers throughout the country.

The cows graze happily in their pinpointed area with borders invisible to the eye.

For someone who grew up in the days when the only chips in a car were scattered on the back seat, Mr Francis finds this fascinating.

He and wife Hilary put the solar-powered Halter smart collars on 250 of their winter milking cows in June, and by the end of the month had them on the entire dairy herd of just under 1500 cows.

High on the list of taking up the technology was keeping good staff.

‘‘While I’m a sucker for a glossy brochure I also see the benefits of labour efficiencies and staff engagement,’’ he said.

‘‘Younger people are pretty good on their phones and so if they’re on their phones and can shift the cows or get the cows in or do the farm work, whatever, then that’s gold. Since we’ve got Halter they’re all really engaged with it.’’

The New Zealand tech company developed the collars with a simple app that helps farmers guide cows without fences, wires, motorbikes, gates or dogs.

A noise signals to each cow when it approaches or crosses over a virtual fence, with a vibration indicating it is on the right path. Should a cow detour, then the collar delivers a ‘‘low-energy pulse’’in technology approved by the AgResearch Animal Ethics Committee.

The Francis’ found after day two their herd was trained in recognising the virtual fences.

Lessons were learned quickly when human error crept in and someone put a collar on upside-down.

‘‘When you put them on they have to be on the right way, because the idea is if they turn left it makes a noise, or a vibration or a zap, and if you have it on the wrong way she’s being told to go left rather than right, and it really messes with them. One would go the wrong way and couldn’t understand.’’

He had even heard of clever cows learning to back through a feed break to get to a juicy morsel, but for the most part it has worked well and helped their business.

The system automates cow movements, and monitors daily grazing of individual cows so farmers can keep track and adjust their feed. Advanced heat detection and health alerts are delivered to help lift their in-calf...