Tim Prior, co-owner of Brussels Agri-Services Ltd./Grazing Meadows Wagyu, presented at the CFGA’s 15th Annual Conference, Roots to Success: The Foundation of Resilient Agriculture. His presentation discussed the latest technology available to producers for managing livestock grazing with virtual fences. Here are some highlights from his presentation. 
 
For the past three decades Tim has implemented intensive grazing on his farm. He’s currently using the Gallagher eShepherd and his session outlined the key functionality and benefits of this virtual fencing system. 
 
Released in Canada in the spring of 2024, the eShepherd eliminates the need for using cross-fences in a rotational grazing system. This, in turn, reduces the labour and expenses related to setting up and moving fencing as cattle graze. 
 
The system uses collars to attach a GPS unit to the cattle. Each unit features built-in solar panels to charge the battery, a battery and a steel chain which transfers a shock deterrent to the animal. The shock is less than the shock received from a typical electric fencer. The units are built to withstand the conditions encountered in the pasture, from muck to weather, and the battery life is about seven years. 
 
The system comes with computer software and a phone app. Once a fixed perimeter fence is in place, the producer can configure the space within the boundary in any shape or size as well as around obstacles or sensitive areas using the computer software. The phone app allows producers to manage the paddocks and receive data on individual animals.  
 
The system can track the movement of individual animals and Gallagher has built-in sensors for future features such as health monitoring, heat cycles and more. 
 
“You can track, manage and move animals using eShepard with software apps, from anywhere in the world, with your phone. Twenty-four-seven, you can see where the cattle are and basically controlling the whereabouts and health of your animals.” 
 
2024 conference recordings   
To hear all of this presentation, you can purchase access to it, and all of the recordings from the 2024 conference proceedings. Note, the recordings are available for free to those who registered for the 2024 conference. For more information, email [email protected].