South-west Victorian dairy farmers have learnt about the potential benefits of virtual fencing to manage herd grazing and movement, during a New Zealand study tour.
Farm consultants Angus Drummond and Fiona Smith organised and led the tour of the SW Farm Business Discussion Group (SW FBDG) to Christchurch, New Zealand.
One of the highlights was visiting a large farm of 1800 cows using Halter collars on three herds, prompting a suggestion to lobby the State Government to allow their use in Victoria.
DemoDAIRY Foundation funded six south-west Victorian farmers to be part of the tour, which also looked at how farmers are coping with the lower Nitrogen requirements and mitigating options, irrigation trials looking at application rates and timing and the effect on Nitrogen leaching, and a visit to Lincoln University to talk about a study on regenerative farming and 10-in-7 milking intervals. Mr Drummond said there was a lot of interest in the Halter collars.
“The farmer took us to a 59ha paddock of Kale and Fodder Beet and simultaneously moved two large groups of animals, at either end of the paddock, up to the eating face from either side of the paddock,” he said.
“All cows moved quietly, none broke out and crossed the virtual fence, and then after a while, the herds were moved back again with no fuss.”
Mr Drummond said farmers might want the virtual fencing, but the price was currently prohibitive.
“They are a very powerful tool and the demonstration showed there was no evidence of cruelty,” he said. “The two herds were very relaxed and happy to take and obey the sound cues given to them.
“We need to be lobbying the Victorian Government to allow these collars on to our farms.”
Mr Drummond said the collars had reinvigorated the farmers’ interests in the herds and pasture management.
“The app allows for pasture allocation and as the area is drawn into the app, it shows the pasture kgDM/cow allocated and the rotation length the herd will be on,” he said.
“The farmer can review the grazed area throughout the day and allocate more feed if required without needing to run a new strip fence.”
Eye-Opener
Timboon farmers and SW FBDG participants Matt and Renee Whitehead, who were supported by DemoDAIRY Foundation to join the tour, said it was a real eye-opener.
“It got us thinking about the impact government regulations can have on farming for better or worse,” Mrs Whitehead said.
“We wanted to see different farming systems and how they are managed, and it was interesting to learn about the Halter collars,” she said.
Mr Whitehead said he had been following the Halter collars for a couple of years.
“It was nice to see them at work,” he said. “We could save a heap of labour by using them.”
They would support a push to the State Government to legalise their use in Victoria.
“The cows respected the collars and the farmers respected what was expected of the cows,” Mr Whitehead said.
They thanked DemoDAIRY Foundation for the opportunity and recommended other farmers seek support for similar study tours.
“It’s always worth looking a bit further than your fence to see what’s going on,” Mr Whitehead said.
DemoDAIRY Foundation is keen to support south-west Victorian dairy farmers to improve their knowledge and advance their careers. More information about support from the DemoDAIRY Foundation can be found at https://www.demodairy.com.au/scholarships-and-grants/ or from DDF secretary Ian Teese on 0427 358987 or itag@big-pond.com.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 18 July 2023.
