A fully digitised electric fencing system is saving Canterbury dairy farmers Ben and Allie King time and money, managing their herd and access to their farm all from their mobile phones. 

The couple are 50/50 sharemilking 650 cows on 180 hectares in Rotherham. They installed Gallagher’s M6000i iSeries Energizer, which they use along with Gallagher’s iSeries Fence Monitors. This splits the farm into two fencing zones. The couple and their team use the Gallagher Ag Devices App on their mobile phones to control the entire system. They also all have Gallagher iSeries Energizer Remote and Fault Finder, which makes finding faults quick and easy. 

Since arriving at the farm in June last year, Allie explains that the farm owners have made a considerable investment in the farm’s infrastructure, including fencing. 

“There has been a lot of work going on which has meant fences needed to be moved and wires cut so diggers could do prep work for installing irrigation. Our electric fence system has constantly needed to be turned on and off.” 

“The Gallagher M6000i iSeries Energizer, which pairs with Gallagher’s Ag Devices App on our mobile phones, has been an incredible time saver. 

“If we have a fault that’s 2km from the unit, we can turn it on and off from our phones right on the spot. Or if we need to turn the fence off to let a digger through or shift a fence, we don’t have to travel all the way back to the unit.” 

The couple has split the farm into two zones using the iSeries Fence Monitor. This helps them isolate the farm into two areas and better identify where the faults are. 

“It makes it really easy to see if the fault is on one side of the farm and saves time in finding it.” 

 Ben and Allie employ two full time farm staff and employ casual staff during busy periods like calving. They all have fault finders, which they carry in their pockets. 

“The fault finders are another essential piece of kit. I’m not sure how you’d find faults without it. You’d just be running blind. You just put it on the fence, it tells you the kilovolts and amps running through the fence and then points you in the direction where amps are high,” says Allie.  

“Follow the fence in the direction it points, and you’ll find what’s causing the fault. It’s that simple.” 

With all staff having access to the Gallagher Ag Devices App, each member of the team can see what’s happening with the fencing system at any time by looking at their phones.  

The system also has an amp setting and a voltage setting. If the amps go higher than the setting or the voltage goes lower, it will trigger an alarm and send an alert to their phones. It means Ben, Allie and their team always know exactly what’s happening with their fences and can fix any issues immediately. 

“It’s so much more than a normal fence power unit. It has a digital screen, and you can connect it to your phone using Wi-Fi or with a cellular hot spot to give you total peace of mind,” says Allie. 

The Gallagher M6000i iSeries Energizer unit allows Ben and Allie to see how much power is coming out of the unit and know immediately if there is an issue with their fencing that could risk stock getting out.  

“It’s super handy for things like when you have cows on crops, and you need to know quickly if they break out day or night.” 

Allie says adding the iSeries Fence Monitor and Gateways to the system has also been a game changer. 

“From our phones we can see if there is a problem with the system and we can see what zone it’s in, saving the hassle and time of searching entire fence lines looking for the issue,” says Allie. 

She says they don’t have Wi-Fi available on the farm, so they use a data card to control the system. 

“It’s so simple, you just put the data card in and away you go.” 

“It’s very cool to have something so digitised and automated. When farmers’ days are already busy enough, it gives us with such valuable peace of mind and one less thing to worry about.”

Learn more about the iSeries system here.

Gallagher, in partnership with Landcare Australia, is excited to announce the recipients of the Gallagher Landcare Electric Fencing Grants for 2023. 

Our partnership with Landcare Australia has been invaluable to supporting landowners to care for the land through improved environmental conservation activities. Gallagher made a pledge with Landcare Australia to have 150 fencing grant projects completed by 2026, which we are on track to achieve.

The Gallagher Landcare Electric Fencing Grant has continued to grow year after year. 2023 marks the fourth year of our partnership with Landcare, inspired by a commitment to supporting local communities and the environment.

We're excited to announce that this year we have awarded 22 grants, to the total value of $176,000 (ex. GST). With an overwhelming number of applications this year, we had a very competitive field. Those receiving grants submitted high-quality applications outlining their ongoing intention for conservation and protection.

The projects were chosen with a focus on conservation exclusion and inclusion permanent fencing, riparian protection, and farm dam restoration. We believe the recipients have a genuine passion and commitment to long-term landcare and conservation activities. 

Introducing the 2023 recipients of the Gallagher Landcare Electric Fencing Grant:

Recipients receive funding for individual electric fencing project grants valued at up to $8,000 (ex. GST) for fencing materials to support projects, with costs determined in consultation with the local Gallagher Territory Manager.

Read more about the Gallagher Landcare Grant here.

For South Canterbury dairy graziers Nigel and Gina Gardner spending hours moving break fences every day is a thing of the past thanks to Gallagher’s virtual fencing solution, eShepherd™.

The couple operates an intensive grazing operation across 350 hectares, running up to 800 dairy heifers, raising 150 jersey bulls for breeding and maintaining a small herd of 90 beef steers.

Efficient pasture management is at the heart of their operation. They need to effectively manage pasture residuals to keep their grass growing year-round and optimise their grazing to get the best animal growth rates possible for their clients.

“We have more fences than the average grazier because we run our dairy grazers in smaller mobs so we can focus on getting great growth rates for our clients,” says Gina.

“I used to be a dairy farmer, so I know where heifer weights need to be and I don't want to be sending anything back that I'm not happy with,” says Nigel.

However, their approach saw Nigel moving up to 20 break fences a day, so they started searching for a better way. They discovered eShepherd, which they started using on 150 grazing heifers in October 2023.

eShepherd trains cattle to remain within a virtual fencing barrier, which Nigel has set up on his laptop ready to activates from an app on his phone. It allows him to move and contain the livestock anywhere on the farm. The system also provides 24/7 insights and data on animal health and performance.

“It was amazing to see how easily and quickly the cows adapted. The biggest job was actually unpacking all the neckbands, activating each one and getting them turned on. As far as putting them on the animals and getting the virtual fencing working, within half a day, the heifers knew what was going on,” says Nigel.

Pasture is the backbone of the Gardner’s business. While they have had some good seasons recently, Nigel says the seasons are changing and becoming drier, which will present challenges for them.

“How we manage our pasture is key,” says Nigel. “I can't have mobs free-ranging and burning up pasture because then I end up needing a lot more supplement, which can be costly. Home-grown pasture is the most efficient feed, so we need to be smart about how we use it.”

The couple says Gallagher has been with them every step of the way on their eShepherd journey with after-sales advice and support. Nigel and Gina believe eShepherd has transformed part of their operation and given them better work-life balance.

“I'm not out there winding up electric fences or moving electric fences every day,” says Nigel. “In the eShepherd app, I remove, add and create breaks several days in advance and activate them daily or as necessary at the touch of a button. It’s that easy.”

Nigel and Gina wanted to put the system to the test, so Nigel programmed the breaks before they left for a long weekend. Rather than ask his farm manager to shift the mobs he activated the fence movements himself from their holiday location.

“It worked perfectly. I checked with my farm manager and the mobs had moved onto the new breaks no issues at all,” says Nigel.

He says eShepherd has made grass management so much easier.

“Using eShepherd means I can move mobs at any time of the day or night depending on the feed that’s available,” says Nigel.

“While I’m having breakfast, I use my phone to move the two mobs that have eShepherd neckbands. When I'm out moving those that are behind a traditional electric fence, I quickly check on my eShepherd mobs to make sure they have moved themselves and they're happy. Over time as we get used to using the new technology, I won’t feel the need to do that anymore.”

Gina says eShepherd is saving them time and freeing up brain space to be able to oversee their business in a different way.

“We have been away a couple of times since introducing eShepherd and Nigel's been able to see what's happening on farm, even though he's not here. It gives us real peace of mind,” says Gina.

The Gardners can see the potential to share data from eShepherd with heifer owners to reassure them about their animals’ progress while they are off farm for grazing.

After seeing the benefits of eShepherd over the last five months, Nigel and Gina now plan to expand the use of the virtual fencing solution across their operation, as investment allows.

“We’ve had so much positive feedback from our business partners, clients, and the farming community about the results we’re getting with eShepherd,” says Gina. “There is so much potential for technology to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of our farm we would be silly not to consider rolling it out further.”

Precision herd management using Gallagher’s eShepherd cattle neckbands just got easier with eShepherd now providing coverage wherever your cellular phone works, removing the need for expensive start-up infrastructure with connectivity base stations.

eShepherd is Gallagher’s pioneering virtual fencing solution that uses neckbands to train cattle to remain within a virtual fencing barrier. It allows farmers to move and contain livestock anywhere on their farm, directly from their laptop or phone. Director of eShepherd Sales and Commercialisation, Sharl Liebergreen, says the eShepherd system has traditionally been driven by long-range communication using base stations installed across farms that can communicate over 5km. eShepherd neckbands are now available with built-in cellular connectivity, removing the need to install base stations on your farm. That means each individual neckband connects to your local cellular network, meaning faster and cheaper startup costs for virtual fencing.

The updated neckband variant can now use a global SIM card to connect to a local cellular network, removing the need for base stations and saving farmers the initial infrastructure cost of $5,000 per station. The neckbands use specific bands (referred to as IoT bands) of the local cellular network, which provide enhanced coverage and connectivity, especially in remote or rural areas where traditional cellular services might be less reliable, says Sharl. The bands consistently ensure the reliable transmission of data.

Sharl says Gallagher could see the growth in cellular coverage across New Zealand and Australia with recent developments including SpaceX partnering with local cellular companies to improve rural connectivity and Gallagher saw the opportunity to transform the system and save farmers money – enabling them to get straight into virtual fencing, and not spend time and money on connectivity towers. “By leveraging those cellular networks, we can give farmers more flexibility and save them the cost of installing base stations – which are valued at $5,000 each,” says Sharl.

“Recent virtual fencing research described virtual fencing installation with base stations being a huge barrier to entry – with costs as high as $40,000. Farmers have told us they would rather invest in more neckbands than base stations,” says Sharl. He says the cellular option will also be welcomed by Gallagher’s American and Canadian customers who graze large paddocks, often not side by side or nearby each other, but they do have great cellular coverage. “If the farm has cellular coverage, there is no requirement to invest in base stations. Each eShepherd neckband will connect to the local cellular network. The farmer doesn’t have to do anything. The cost of the cellular connection is managed by Gallagher,” says Sharl.

“With a SIM installed in the neckbands to facilitate the cellular connection, farmers will simply need to turn the neckbands on, fit them onto their animals, and they can start managing and virtually fencing their herds immediately. eShepherd will take care of the rest, including connecting to the cellular network and managing the billing between the network and the neckbands.” says Sharl.With cellular network connectivity, we can immediately deliver new solutions and software updates over the network, directly to the neckband. Ensuring the farmer is working with the latest features with minimal disruption to the daily operations of farmers, says Sharl.

Sharl says the new feature will also be particularly useful for small-scale operators or lifestyle farmers. “With no need for expensive base stations, lifestyle farmers can easily implement virtual fencing on their properties, ensuring the welfare of their livestock without breaking the bank,” says Sharl. “In the case of lifestyle property owners. They often work away from their property but even when they are busy juggling multiple responsibilities, they can still efficiently manage their livestock using eShepherd and cellular connectivity,” says Sharl.

To learn more and sign up for eShepherd virtual fencing - click here.

One of the most beautiful sights for Clarence Valley grazier Marg Gillespie is the river of mist she sees early in the morning from the homestead of her property, JARA.

It's a sign that, after having survived through the recent drought in the region, she is comforted by. "It's wonderful to sit here on the back verandah and see that water go up through the valley ready to come back down again - the daily water cycle," she said.

Rehydration of the landscape has been a priority for Mrs Gillespie and her husband Dave since they bought the 1754 acre property in cattle country near Tabulam in 2013 with plans to establish a cattle breeding operation and put in place the sustainable, regenerative land management practices they were passionate about.

They first saw the property in 2011 on one of their many road trips looking for the perfect place. "Dave pointed across the road as we were driving along and said, 'That's the kind of country I'd like'," said Mrs Gillespie.

The property came up for sale in April 2013 and in the following December the Gillespies moved there permanently from South East Queensland, where they owned a vineyard.

"I'd lived all my childhood and adulthood on farms, my parents had a Hereford stud, and Dave was a mechanic by trade but had worked on properties so farming wasn't new to us," said Mrs Gillespie.

"My great love is cattle, I love the industry and I wanted to get back on a farm. Our plan was to look after the country and produce the best beef cattle we could. We were so lucky to find this property. It's a special place."

Protecting for future generations

Since buying the property - which they named JARA using the initials of their four children - the Gillespies have worked to establish their Santa Hereford Angus breeding operation while applying the kinds of land management strategies inspired by natural sequence farming champions like Australia's Peter Andrews.

"We're in our 60s now and our aim is to leave the property in better condition than when we found it, for future generations," Mrs Gillespie said.

"It's important to us because we have always been very conscious of the environment and looking after it - we want to do things as sustainably and regeneratively as possible. Plus it's a working property so it has to be profitable and if you're not looking after the land you're not going to be profitable."

The undulating property has the Clarence River on one of its boundaries and also incorporates two creek systems - Bottle Creek and Tunglebung Creek. Around 1100 acres of the property is used for grazing and the rest is native forest.

One of the Gillespies' first steps was to divide the property into more paddocks to allow for controlled grazing, strategically rotating cattle to allow the land to stabilise and to improve soil.

In January 2019, with drought conditions in the region, the Gillespies decided to destock. They reduced down to a core breeding herd and focused in on their land management work with increased determination to build JARA's ability to make use of available water and be more drought tolerant.

"We continued to destock as the feed diminished; we were ultra aware of not over grazing the paddocks so that when it did rain again the property would quickly recover, which it did when the drought broke for us (in December 2020 with just over 300 mls)," Mrs Gillespie said.

"That experience really made the rehydration of our landscape a major priority for Dave and me."

Fencing grant supports projects

The Gillespies' work on their property was recently recognised and given an extra boost when two of the projects key to their land management and drought tolerance strategies were selected as recipients in the annual Gallagher Landcare Electric Fencing Grants program.

The program aims to support improved grazing management and conservation across the nation providing a combination of Gallagher Electric Fencing and monetary support to facilitate projects.

The Gillespies' projects included the rehabilitation of a deep erosion incision that cuts through the property, and the protection of an intact "chain of ponds" - an environmentally-valuable natural feature that comprises a series of ponds linked by shallow waterways.

The chain of ponds is a part of the property the Gillespies are particularly proud of and passionate about.

"It's a unique example of the old Australian landscape you don't see many of any more. We feel very lucky to have one on our property," she said.

"It's about a six acre area that is a small flood plain before the country rises up on either side; it's basically a chain with steps between the ponds and the water flowing down.

"It has natural reed beds and marshy grasses that trap the fertile sediment coming down through the system and that benefits your frogs, water lizards, birds and other wildlife that live in this environment. It's a really exciting area - the grandkids especially love it!"

The Gillespies have used the Gallagher Electric Fencing they received to restrict cattle from the area as part of their ongoing work to protect the fragile system. They constructed more than 2.5 kilometres of fencing using Gallagher's Mega Anchor Post Kits and Insulated Line Posts, a fast and easy-to-install permanent fencing solution.

"This chain of ponds system does need to be maintained, protected from the cattle and looked after - we've been planting it out with trees and lomandras to help slow the flow, which holds the fertility and adds to the soil," Mrs Gillespie said.

The deep erosion incision in a paddock on the other side of the property is next in line to be fenced thanks to the support from Gallagher and will exclude cattle, allowing vegetation to stabilise and develop.

"This has been a plan since we first came here but it was never going to be a cheap exercise, so getting the grant was fantastic," said Mrs Gillespie. "The only way to rehabilitate it is to fence it off so you haven't got cattle trampling through it and continuing to make it worse.

"By planting on the floor of the erosion and the sides we'll be able to stop the sides from collapsing and stop water from rushing down there when it rains which causes more incisions and affects your fertility, taking your top soil with it down into the Clarence River and out to sea at Yamba.

"Slowing the flow means more water is going into the soil, staying longer and doing its job so you might be better able to cope with the next drought. Our Gallagher Landcare grant has been a great contribution towards achieving our goals."

Cattle producers will soon gain a new tool as the NSW government plans to legalise long-awaited virtual fencing technology.

The recent announcement by the NSW government to legalise virtual fencing represents a significant step forward for farmers, promising to enhance their operations with cutting-edge innovation and efficiency.

Gallagher Animal Management have been immersed in the legislative consultation process, with GM Strategy & New Ventures Sarah Adams attending hearings alongside other industry and animal welfare experts.

Sarah says, “We are delighted by the decision, now NSW farmers will have a new tool in the toolbox to help them optimise resource use and scale up precision livestock management.”

Supporting Transformation

The announcement comes six months after the tabling of a report by the Legislative Assembly Committee, inspired by Mr Donato's Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Virtual Stock Fencing) Bill 2024.

In July, Gallagher attended a public hearing hosted by NSW’s Committee on Investment, Industry and Regional Development on an amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Virtual Stock Fencing) Bill 2024. The committee heard from local businesses, farmers, animal welfare advocates and more who debated the potential risks and benefits that would result from an amendment to the Bill.

A report following this hearing stated: “With farmers in New South Wales facing increasing challenges from natural disasters and fluctuating markets, it is important to examine whether virtual stock fencing technology can help them and the broader environment.” And now, the decision has been made to empower farmers with virtual fencing to help mitigate impacts of these challenges.

Previously, opposition for virtual fencing stemmed from animal welfare concerns; a subject Gallagher take very seriously. At the July hearing, Sarah assured local officials.

 “eShepherd has been developed with animal health and wellbeing at the forefront of all design decisions. We are aligned with the RSPCA’s five domains of animal welfare and are working with Animal Ethics Committees and governing agencies to ensure the solution results in a positive outcome for happier and healthier animals.”

Following an initial audio cue, eShepherd neckbands emit a mild, predictable pulse approximately 100x less than that of physical electric fencing to guide cattle back to virtual paddocks. They are also designed with built-in breakaway functions to ensure no safety risk for livestock.

Unleashing the Power of Innovation

This revolutionary tool is set to redefine livestock management and pasture precision across the vast and often challenging terrain of New South Wales.

Virtual fencing utilises neckbands equipped with GPS technology and sensory cues, enabling farmers to manage livestock movements with unprecedented ease and accuracy via an IoT platform. This innovation not only optimises pasture usage but also alleviates the need for traditional physical fences, offering an agile and cost-effective solution for rotational grazing at scale.

The integration of virtual fencing with existing farm management systems offers a seamless and holistic approach to livestock and land management. By leveraging data and technology, farmers can make informed decisions that enhance productivity and profitability while minimising environmental impact.

Mark Dempsey, eShepherd Business Development for Gallagher Australia shares his excitement.

"The introduction of virtual fencing in NSW is a game-changer for the agricultural sector. This technology allows farmers to manage their livestock more efficiently and effectively, reducing labour costs and increasing pasture utilisation. It's a win-win for farmers.

"With virtual fencing, farmers can manage their herds over large areas more effectively, ensuring that every square meter of pasture is used to its fullest potential. This level of precision is vital for resilient farming, especially in regions where resources are scarce due to drought or other climate events.

Joining the Party

Farmers across QLD, WA and South Australia have enjoyed the benefits of virtual fencing in recent years. Simon Fowler’s expansive cropping and finishing operation covering 50,000 hectares in Western Australia is using eShepherd™ virtual fencing technology to enhance crop and animal health and productivity.

Chilwell Farms, in Condingup near Esperance, is primarily dedicated to cropping wheat and canola and also runs 2000 head of Angus cattle, grass finishing about 1500 yearlings each year, and 30,000 ewes.

In January 2024, Simon Fowler adopted eShepherd to efficiently manage cattle on his cropping land, aiming to boost both crop and pasture performance and animal productivity and health.

“It’s been a game changer” Simon says.

Previously, the cattle free-ranged the farm's 150-hectare paddocks, often undergrazing and overgrazing areas.

“Along with having no real control of our cattle in the large paddocks, they would undergraze or overgraze areas and there was no time for pasture regeneration. The lack of efficient grazing was impacting our crop and soil management and meant we weren’t getting the most out of our cattle either,” Simon explains.

eShepherd has enabled the Fowlers to control their cattle with precision, allowing them to implement rotational grazing cells within each 150-hectare paddock.

Now, like Simon, NSW farmers will be able to realise crucial productivity gains through this innovative tech.

Looking Ahead

At Gallagher Animal Management, we are committed to supporting NSW farmers as they adopt virtual fencing. Our team is dedicated to providing the tools, training, and support needed to maximise the benefits of virtual fencing.

We continue to work closely with other State governing bodies across Australia to unlock further potential for the nations agricultural industry.

If you would like to learn more about your virtual fencing options, please get in touch with our dedicated local rep Mark Dempsey on 0473 463 603 or via mark.dempsey@gallagher.com