Question 1

Quick Start Guide

Accepted Answer

The following steps give you a very short and concise list of activities that you will need to complete to get eShepherd up and running! For more information, scroll down the page to find a description for each step.

Solar Charge Neckband Batteries (2 - 3 days)
Install the Base Station (where applicable)
Learn the basic operation of the eShepherd Web App
Un-hibernate (or turn ON) the Neckbands
Confirm they are all communicating with the platform & flashing a green LED
Fit the Neckbands to Animals
Associate Neckbands with Animals on the Web App
Create a Mob on the eShepherd Web App
Review Animal Training guidelines and prepare the Training Virtual Paddock
Release animals to the paddock and Activate the Training Virtual Paddock
Monitor their progress for 7 to 10 day

Onboarding Guide

As you begin your eShepherd journey, there is a lot of new information to take in for both you and your animals! Please be patient during this time. The animals will need a week or two to learn how to respond to the audio tones and you will need that time to learn the basics of the eShepherd Platform! 😊

Step 1: Solar Charge Neckbands

Once you receive your Neckbands, please unpack and get them exposed to direct sunlight to charge the battery before taking any further steps. We have to ship the neckbands with only a small amount of charge so they need a day or two of good sunshine to get them to an operational level. Note that it can take 3 sun

Question 2

Introduction to the eShepherd Web App

Accepted Answer

| Play this video in full screen mode to learn about the basic operation of the Web App.

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Getting Started

To begin using the eShepherd web app, open your browser and visit www.app.eshepherd.com . Log in with the password that your created during your account setup process. Before you dive in, adjust your browser zoom to about 80% for better visibility of the map and sidebar. If you don’t already have your bookmarks bar visible, go into your browser settings and enable it. Bookmark the eShepherd app by dragging the URL to the bar for quick access.

Understanding the Map

The map shows your farm's physical fences (white lines), watering points, gates, and other infrastructure. These markers help communicate with your team — like marking a gate for someone to close. Animal icons represent different mobs, color-coded for easy identification. Active virtual paddocks appear as solid orange lines, while inactive ones are dotted. You can activate or deactivate these paddocks as needed for rotational grazing.

Map Tools and Layers

Use the reset button to center your property on the screen, and the layers button to toggle visibility for various elements, like watering points and landmarks. If the map looks cluttered, turn off layers you don’t need. You can also use this feature to reveal any missing elements.

Menus Overview

The main menus are located on the left. In the Mob Menu, you’ll see all your a

Question 3

How-to create (draw) Virtual Paddocks

Accepted Answer

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Creating Virtual Paddocks

To start, go to the Virtual Paddock (VP) Menu. You may already see some paddocks on your property—some active and others just listed. To create a new virtual paddock, click the Create button (the plus sign) to enter the drawing tool.

Start by selecting an Inclusion Zone and use the map to outline your paddock by clicking to drop virtual fence posts. Complete the shape by clicking back on the first point. You can edit the shape by adding or removing points as needed. If you accidentally create a sharp corner, the system will highlight it in red, as sharp corners can confuse animals. Simply adjust the shape to make it easier for animals to navigate.

Overlaying Virtual and Physical Fences

When creating a virtual paddock, you have the option to overlay it with an existing physical fence. This helps reinforce physical boundaries, and you can either match the virtual fence exactly to the physical one or place it slightly inside or outside, depending on your needs.

Extending Grazing Areas

Once you’ve set up a paddock, you can extend your animals' grazing area over time by using the Copy feature. This creates a copy of the existing paddock, which you can then modify by adding more area. This is especially useful for rotational grazing, as you can progressively allow animals to access more pasture.

Managing Back Fencing

Back fencing allows you to prevent an

Question 4

How-to define physical fences, watering points and landmarks

Accepted Answer

On the eShepherd Web App, you can show your existing infrastructure like physical fences, watering points and any landmarks that might be of interest (such as gates, yards, or hazards).

Play these videos in full screen mode or watch it on YouTube to learn how to setup your infrastructure.

Importing or Creating Physical Fences

To get started, go to the Infrastructure Menu and select Physical Paddocks. You have two options here: you can either import physical paddocks using a KML file or create them manually.

Importing Paddocks: Click the Upload button, then browse for your KML file. Once selected, choose Physical Paddocks as the type and upload it. The paddocks from the file will appear on the map.
Creating Paddocks Manually: To create a paddock, click Create New Physical Paddock, give it a name, and use the map to draw the paddock by placing points to define its boundaries. Once you’re happy with the layout, click Save.

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Adding Watering Points

In the Infrastructure Menu, select Watering Points. You can either upload a KML file with pre-defined watering points or create them manually.

Manual Creation: Click Create New Watering Point, give it a name (e.g., Dam 8), and place it on the map by clicking where the dam or watering point is located. You can leave the default capacity and water level settings, then press Save to create the new watering po

Question 5

How to fit Neckbands to animals

Accepted Answer

||| ⚠️ Please note, when you first put a neckband on an animal, the animal will buck and jump around attempting to get rid of the device around its neck! This excited behaviour typically only lasts 20 - 30 seconds before the animal calms down. Please be prepared for this and ensure you are taking adequate safety precautions for yourself and the animals. ⚠️

In this three-part video series, you’ll learn how to:

Prepare neckbands for fitting on animals
Fit the neckbands correctly around each animal’s neck
Adjust the chain length and insert the locking clips

Fitting neckbands for the first time can be challenging. Take your time, and consider the temperament and disposition of your animals. If some animals become agitated or distressed, it’s best to release them back into the holding area and start with calmer animals. This approach allows you to build your skills and confidence gradually.

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Question 6

Base Station Installation Guide (pdf download)

Accepted Answer

Download the Base Station Installation Guide by clicking on the download arrow.

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${color}[#ff8400](2025 Update)

We are transitioning to a revised version of the Base Station that uses some different devices. Please download Revision 3.0 of the guide if you have received this version.

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