eShepherd

Fences are one of the oldest and most useful technologies in agriculture. However, they require significant capital investment for installation and then ongoing maintenance costs. Rough, inhospitable terrain or seasonal ecological grazing in certain wilderness areas (UK and USA) restrict where permanent fences can be installed. A replacement system would need to as be as reliable and functional in the harshest conditions, combining a durable form with long lasting battery life and have a positive impact on animal welfare.

eShepherd is an IoT driven platform comprising a GPS enabled neckband and cloud-based application which is used to fence, move and monitor livestock by detecting and responding to animal behaviour. eShepherd contains a patented training program, refined through years of evidence-based research and development. The system comprises an intelligent neckband that trains livestock to recognise and stay within virtual boundaries. The neckband utilises GPS and other sensors to detect and respond to animal behaviour. Farmers use a cloud-based web application to create virtual paddock boundaries and check on livestock activity, all of which are updated dynamically to ensure accurate data.

The system enables farmers to implement cell grazing or rotational grazing systems that are tailored to farm geography, vegetation, and seasonal variations. It enables sustainable land management and regenerative agriculture by providing an efficient method to change grazing patterns to ensure pastures are used effectively. Farmers can instantly update fences and muster livestock from any location worldwide, which may significantly reduce livestock mortality rates in event of a disaster, as evidenced by the recent Queensland floods. Additionally, the neckband provides individual animal behaviour and health monitoring, allowing farmers to act quickly to address any issues with their herds.

While eShepherd allows producers to improve farm productivity, importantly it provides benefits to on farm OH&S, animal welfare, wildlife and the environment. eShepherd’s virtual herding process eliminates the need for mustering aids such as aircraft, horses, dogs, ATVs and other vehicles, which have been associated with injury and death to both workers and animals. eShepherd allows producers to move and muster stock steadily, at their own pace. This safer and lower stress process reduces animal weight loss and improves meat quality. Conventional barbed wire and electric fences can have the unintended effect of causing injury and death to both livestock and native wildlife, such as owls, flying foxes, kookaburras, wallabies, bettongs and kangaroos. Removing physical fences reduces injury, thus improving livestock value and allows for the free movement of wildlife, which is a critical contributor to a healthy ecosystem on farmland, national parks and riparian zones. eShepherd allows producers to remotely monitor animal location and movement. The behaviour sensors will also allow for early alerts when individual animals are sick, injured or require other interventions. eShepherd has the potential to revolutionise sustainable livestock management.