Virtual fences make wet season grazing management easier
NQ Dry Tropics Climate Adaptation Coordinator Justin Macor reckons the Virtually Fence-Free Long-Term Trial at Spyglass Beef Research Facility is proving its value.
Delivered in partnership with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI), the five-year project is testing the eShepherd virtual fencing system to help rangeland graziers manage commercial-sized beef herds with fine-scale, adaptive grazing systems.
“We can monitor cattle and track their movements remotely, even when we can’t get out to the paddocks, like during the wet season,” Justin said.
“The technology lets us adjust fence boundaries in real time, moving cattle to higher, drier ground and away from flood-affected areas. Unlike conventional fencing, which can get damaged or washed away, virtual boundaries keep stock safely contained until repairs are possible.
“Even when paddocks are off-limits, virtual fencing helps with wet-season pasture management — it allows pasture to recover, builds ground cover, and strengthens the land for the dry season and future droughts.”
Justin said recent yarding at Spyglass showed promising results, including cattle remaining healthy in teh wet, reliable data transmission, and the supporting infrastructure, including Starlink, performing well under challenging wet-season conditions.
“Working with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries has been fantastic. Collaboration lets us test the technology, spot challenges early, and develop practical solutions so producers can confidently adopt virtual fencing on their own properties,” Justin said.
“With the wet season coming to an end, we’re looking forward to keeping a close eye on herd movements and weight gains under virtual fencing, using the data to fine-tune management decisions and ensure both the cattle and the land remain healthy and resilient.”
Local cattleman the right man for the job
Justin Macor, left, is a Townsville local from a cattle-producing family and the new project lead for the NQ Dry Tropics Virtual Fencing Project (in partnership with QDPI).
He is completing a PhD in Precision Livestock Management with CQUniversity, researching on-animal sensors such as smart ear tags and GPS devices to detect calving events and assess calving difficulty in extensively grazed cattle.
During his PhD, Justin also collaborated with Oklahoma State University, USA, on virtual fencing using Vence technology.
He holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and completed Honours research at the Wambiana Grazing Trial on pasture composition under different grazing strategies.
FURTHER READING
Catch up on the journey so far — from project launch to field days and on-ground milestones. Previous updates (below) highlight the project’s progress, partnerships, and key moments since it began.
Virtually Fence Free project
The project began in August 2023 and will run until July 2028.
Read this outline of the project to catch up on the project’s goals, partners, and how it was established.
Field Day showcases trial
Check out this story about last year’s field day at Spyglass Research Centre, where graziers, scientists, industry experts, and government staff came together to hear from a range of guest speakers.
The Virtually Fence-Free Long-Term Trial is funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
