Precision Grazing with eShepherd in Taranaki
Friday, 18 July, 2025
In the productive pastures of Taranaki, New Zealand, George Hardwick-Smith is quietly redefining what smart, efficient grazing looks like. With eShepherd virtual fencing, what was once a hard-to-manage river flat is now a streamlined, high-performing bull beef block.
George’s story isn’t about using flashy tech. It’s about solving real problems on real farms—like how to make the most of land without the cost and hassle of new fencing.
Transforming Remote Land into Productive Pasture
George had a choice: sink serious money into rebuilding fences across 30 hectares—or try something different. That’s where eShepherd came in.
“We thought we’d have a crack with virtual fencing… did a bit of cost analysis and decided it was worth it.” — George Hardwick-Smith
Using eShepherd neckbands, George implemented a precision cell grazing system on 200 R1 Bulls. A carefully managed structure with 10 mobs and 120 cells per mob. This level of detail allows for highly targeted grazing, with shifts planned and scheduled weekly for each morning from his laptop and executed remotely, even when he's away on holiday.
“I can be in beautiful sunny Wanaka… just sit down and do it. It makes it really easy.”
Time Saved, Control Gained
What used to require frequent manual shifts and travel now takes about 40 minutes a week.
“If you’re going down to each paddock and shifting 10 mobs once a day for a week… that’s going to take a lot longer than 40 minutes.” — George Hardwick-Smith
Daily automated shifts mean consistent animal behavior, better utilization, and healthier pastures—especially during spring when compensatory growth kicks in.
Calm Bulls, Clean Breaks
Despite less hands-on time, George’s bulls have stayed calm and settled.
“I was a little surprised. They’re still quite quiet, even with very little human interaction. I think having them in small mobs really helps.”
Cattle adapt fast to the system. Within a few days, George saw clean grazing lines and clear routines.
Profit, Not Just Precision
George’s data-driven approach is paying off—with returns well above industry averages, proving that bull beef can be both efficient and highly profitable with the right setup.
But he’s realistic: success with virtual fencing comes from practical know-how.
George’s tips for new users:
- Start small and build confidence
- Make sure your water setup is solid
- Spend time learning the platform before scaling up
Why eShepherd Works for George
- Remote management: Full control from anywhere
- Scalable system: Easy to grow with confidence
- Animal welfare: Calm stock and consistent grazing
- Smart resource use: More grazing with fewer inputs
George’s story shows what’s possible when innovation meets practical farming. For him, eShepherd isn’t about changing everything, it’s about making what he already does better.