A virtual fence for livestock that allows better use of pasture, protects the environment and reduces labour, is being developed by the CSIRO Food Futures Flagship using satellite
The project is focussed on developing an animal-friendly virtual fencing system for cattle that enables the animals to be confined without using fixed fences. At this stage in the development of what is designed to be a commercial product, the research team has developed a prototype system and successfully demonstrated its use on a herd of cattle.
CSIRO's Dr Andrew Fisher said the system works in a similar way to a conventional electric fence for livestock, except that the fence is invisible. It is a major improvement on existing virtual fencing approaches.
"The boundaries are drawn entirely by GPS and exist only as a line on a computer,"Â Dr Fisher said "There are no wires or fixed transmitters used at all. Importantly, what we're developing, achieves the same result as a conventional fence but without the need for posts and wire."Â
The system employs electronic collars which emit a sound to warn the cattle when they are approaching a virtual boundary line.
Conducted strictly in line with animal welfare requirements, the virtual fencing project involves collaboration - under the umbrella of the Food Futures Flagship - between CSIRO Livestock Industries in Armidale and the CSIRO ICT Centre in Brisbane.-CSIRO Australia
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