FARMERS are lining up to add the eShepherd cattle management system to their tool box.
It is a virtual alternative to the hands-on traditional fencing methods used by producers.
Agersens business development manager Charlton Honig had a display at the Southern Dirt Techspo in Katanning last week, which he said was the first time that the business had actively advertised and promoted it.
“Agersens has reached an exciting time as we approach full commercialisation of the eShepherd collar,” Mr Honig said.
“We are receiving overwhelming interest and support from every aspect of the agriculture community, as the concept is realised and understood.
“Having full visibility and auditability of stock will have enormous impact for this sector of the agricultural market place.
“Farmers are embracing the technology a lot faster than expected, and it is exciting for all those that have spent so much time developing this tool for farmers.”
Mr Honig said the eShepherd enabled farmers to move stock away from fires and floods, or even just to an area of the paddock that hadn’t been eaten, with the simple stroke of a finger across the smartphone.
“It’s a no-brainer – especially for the pastoralists during mustering,” Mr Honig said.
“The tool could save valuable time and energy which could be put to different uses.”
Mr Honig said the system worked via GPS to an adjustable, solar-powered collar which was connected to a base station and a smartphone via the internet.
He said the system allowed farmers to monitor their cattle 24 hours a day and would alert them to any sudden changes in their behaviour, such as when cattle were startled by a predator or someone was trying to steal the animals.
With the ability to adjust the fence lines on the property without ripping them out of the ground, farmers can remove their internal fences all together to save on maintenance costs and for ease of management.
The system is promoted as reducing on-farm labour, fuel and vehicle costs, and helps them protect the landscape from overgrazing and damaging waterways.
Agersens announced the appointment of Mr Honig to steer the eShepherd to market and develop the virtual fencing business in early September.
Mr Honig has background in agriculture, and managing major dairies across Australia to launching new products for Ruralco.
He has worked on a national and international level managing Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and Costco for Unilever, Fonterra and Heinz.
He also manages his own cattle farms in Alexandra and Bendigo, in Victoria.
Over the next few months Agersens will continue trials with the eShepherd MVP on CSIRO properties and select farms throughout Australia.
Trials will involve different environments from rangeland to riparian grazing and a variety of cattle breeds.
Product launch of the eShepherd virtual fence is expected early next year.
