A new ‘AgTech’ option to manage livestock via collars or neck bands that use GPS technology has been announced, with the NSW Government saying it will enable farmers to ‘better manage their stock and to side-step the cost of hard fencing’.
They say it comes after considering recommendations of the Legislative Assembly Committee Inquiry into the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Virtual Stock Fencing) Bill 2024.
The government says, ‘Extensive consultation with farming groups, animal welfare enforcement agencies, and suppliers, have been consulted to draft a best practice regulation that fosters modern farming and ensures the welfare of the livestock’.
‘Virtual fencing is an AgTech solution to managing cattle without the need for physical fencing within a farm’s boundaries. Instead, collars or neck bands that use GPS technology deliver sensory cues to influence the movement of livestock.
‘The technology can also monitor the activity, health and welfare of cattle, and can reduce the stress of the animals that can arise from herding with quad bikes and dogs.
‘The enabling of this technology for NSW has the potential to markedly improve the efficiency of rotational grazing systems and reduce the need for the costly establishment and maintenance of internal fences.
‘The regulation adopts the NSW Guide to Animal Welfare for Virtual Fencing of Cattle that provides appropriate safeguards for animal welfare in the design and operation of virtual fencing, including:
- The user must be trained in how to use the device by the supplier or manufacturer.
- The user must ensure devices are regularly monitored and animal welfare standards are met.
- Devices will allow users to control the boundaries that trigger cues to the animal, but users cannot deliver cues directly to an animal.
- Devices must use vibrational or audio cues first, before using electric cues.
- The technology can only be used for cattle.
‘The technology has built-in features which can temporarily disable the device based on animal behaviour, location, system connectivity or as a safeguard. It also alerts the user to any animal welfare issues and determines if user intervention is required’, adds the government media release.
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