Gallagher is making off-grid livestock control and precision pasture management easier for New Zealand farmers with the launch of an extended range of Lithium Solar Fence Energizers, delivering more power over longer distances in any weather. In 2021, the company revolutionised electric fencing with the introduction of the world-first Lithium Solar Fence Energizer, the S12 Lithium. Now Gallagher has expanded its range in New Zealand launching an S20 Lithium powering up to 2km, an S30 Lithium – up to 3km, an S60 up to 6km and its most powerful S80 Lithium, which delivers reliable off-grid power to fences up to 8km.

The energizers help achieve precision pasture allocation and adaptive livestock control, allowing farmers to get more out of every square meter of grass. This makes it easier for farmers to allocate the perfect amount of pasture per head of livestock and reliably keep mobs where they need to be for efficient grazing. “As farmers face rising costs and tighter margins, maximising the efficient use of pasture needs to be a priority,” says Gallagher Business Development Manager Mark Maitland. “They need reliable portable electric fencing they know they can trust to do the job and keep their livestock where they need to be even without a direct power source. They want to be able to easily subdivide their paddocks into efficient grazing areas to optimise pasture allocation. That’s where our Lithium Solar energizers can help.”

The powerful solar energizers are up to 53 percent lighter than the previous lead-acid battery models, making them easy to transport around the farm. Lithium batteries can perform at least 300 percent more cycles when compared to lead-acid batteries, providing longer life in a product that runs every day and night. The Lithium Energizers are also far superior to lead-acid batteries which can only discharge about 60 percent of their capacity. Lithium batteries are better at holding their charge and can be depleted to almost zero and still be fully regenerated. “Because you can use a lithium battery’s whole range of capacity, they are far more efficient, and the energizers can be smaller in size. Their portability makes it easier for farmers to manage grazing efficiently, even in hard-to-reach areas,” says Mark. “The Lithium Energizers can also manage many more charge/discharge cycles so they last 7-10 years, as opposed to a conventional battery which typically only lasts three seasons. Switching to Lithium makes sense whichever way you look at it.” This improved battery performance means the three year energizer warranty now also includes the battery – which was not the case on previous lead-acid models. 

Gallagher’s Lithium Energizers use intelligent adaptive voltage technology, using microprocessors to continually monitor the solar energy intake and operate the unit as efficiently as possible. "Smart adaptive electronics are constantly monitoring the solar energy being stored, measuring it against the battery voltage and adjusting the output energy to ensure your fence is powered for as long as possible, even in the absence of sunlight,” says Mark. “This clever technology means farmers can be assured their fences are always running.” Like all Gallagher solutions, farmers had input into the initial product concept. Three hundred farmers around the world told Gallagher how they were using current solar-powered energizers, what worked and any issues they had. “We came up with a number of concepts, which we tested out with a selection of farmers to get their feedback,” says Mark. “We found they liked the compact size and the fact that the energizers mount to a post. It makes the energizer even more reliable by keeping the solar panel clear of grass and out of the water.”

These energizer models also have a dual insulated plastic enclosure, which protects internal circuitry and the Lithium battery from extreme temperatures. “We believe our Lithium Energizer range is a collection of the most powerful, lightweight and reliable off-grid energizers on the market,” says Mark. “This leading-edge technology allows farmers to more efficiently manage their pasture, even in more remote locations and provides peace of mind livestock are always where they should be.”

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.

Sean Preston can now rest easy knowing his garden is protected and his beloved canine Houdini is safely contained thanks to Gallagher’s garden and pet protection solution. 

With a fence already enclosing the perimeter of his garden, Sean Preston needed a solution to deter his dog Oakley from her usual trick of jumping over the fence and into the reserve to play with other dogs walking by.

“I felt like I was in a Tom and Jerry cartoon with this dog!” he laughs. “We needed a solution that would give us peace of mind knowing Oakley was safe and our garden wasn’t being destroyed.”

Gallagher’s garden and pet protection kit keeps pets in and pests out. It is a compact, portable, and super reliable solution for long lasting, self-sufficient protection for gardens and pets. An electric fence provides a safe and effective barrier to deter pests from entering the garden or pets from exiting the property. Sean says it has been a game changer. 

In under an hour, he was able to install the electric wire from the kit close to the fence line, powered by Gallagher’s compact and portable Lithium Solar Fence Energizer. 

Sean observed a significant behaviour change in his dog almost straight away.

“After two pulses, Oakley learned to steer well clear of the fence and our problem was solved,” says Sean. 

“As a beloved member of our family, it was reassuring to know the pulses would deter her but not injure her. It is clear animal welfare has been a top priority in the development of this solution.”

Noting the kit’s construction, “It’s a really well made, simple but clever fencing system with clear instructions,” said Sean, who also gave high marks to the kit’s energizer. “It’s extremely robust and very simple to use.” 

Sean confirmed the kit’s promise of simplicity and efficiency saying it was fast and easy to set up.

Thanks to the kit's compact and unobtrusive design, Sean can also easily relocate and reinstall the solution as needed. 

“The kit has most definitely resolved our issue. It really has changed our lives!” 

Learn more about the Garden and Pet Protection kit here

Fencing remote pasture in hard-to-reach corners of farms has become easier with the launch of Gallagher’s MBS6500i energizer, which can function like a talking fence.

The powerful new energizer is a versatile three-in-one system capable of being powered by mains electricity, mains with battery backup, or off-grid with solar energy. Its design ensures durability in all weather conditions, keeping stock secure even in the most challenging environments.

The MBS6500i is designed to work in remote locations from the back of large farms to run-offs and farms where connecting mains power to a fence line can be a challenge.

Gallagher Head of Animal Fencing Kelvin Wong says the system can act like a “talking fence” when paired with Fence Monitors and the i Series Energizer Remote and Fault Finder, used across the fencing system.

“Farmers essentially get a talking fence that they can monitor 24/7 even in the most remote locations on their farms,” he says.

“The total system gives farmers peace of mind, knowing what’s happening with their fence and that their stock is safely contained.”

Fence Monitors can be added at up to six strategic points along a fence line and the MBS6500i comes complete with an LCD controller screen that conveniently displays the energizer’s performance and data from each Fence Monitor on the farm, says Kelvin.

The same data is also displayed on the handheld i Series Energizer Remote and Fault Finder.

“It makes fault repairs so much easier, and you can see how the energizer is performing to give you peace of mind the fence is performing, and your stock is controlled,” says Kelvin.

“With Fence Monitors installed, you can also isolate any areas where a fault occurs, rather than checking the entire fence line,” says Kelvin.

 It also allows users to power off the energizer by simply holding the remote on the wire anywhere on the farm, without the need to go back to the energizer and turn it off.

These features are a significant time saver, especially when the fence is at the back of a large farm, in a hard-to-reach area, or many kilometres long, says Kelvin.

Designed for large-scale fencing, the MBS6500i can power up to 40 kilometres of multi-wire fencing under optimal conditions.

“This system enables farmers to fence remote areas without a direct main power source. With its solar power option, the energizer can operate efficiently in remote areas and with the right number of batteries, can last up to a week even without sunlight,” says Kelvin.

Farmers who have tested the MBS6500i appreciate its reliability and how it creates a talking fence for their farms.

“Being able to see how the energizer is performing and power it off from wherever you are with the remote is such a time saver particularly when you are finding and dealing with faults. The system helps you do it all with ease.”