eShepherd Webinar AUG 2025 Episode 8

Recap

Introduction and Webinar Purpose

Mark welcomed attendees and introduced Rob Reigns from southern Queensland as the featured speaker.

Rob shared how eShepherd fits into his large-scale mixed farming enterprise, alongside high-tech systems such as robotics and precision agriculture.

The webinar covered his grazing setup, training results, property layout, and how virtual fencing has unlocked previously unusable land.

Customer Experience – Rob (Southern Queensland, Australia)

Operation Background

Rob farms approximately 10,000 acres (4,000 ha) on the QLD/NSW border, consisting of:

• Floodplain country
• 1,200 acres of irrigation
• Large areas of creek lines, timber and rough land
• A primarily crop-focused business, with cattle as a secondary enterprise

Much of his land couldn’t be grazed due to poor internal fencing and high labour demands.

Why Rob Adopted eShepherd

Rob’s reasons were simple and compelling:

• To utilise land that would otherwise sit untouched
• To run cattle without building fences
• To avoid interruptions to cropping work
• To enable cattle trading on “opportunity country”
• To move cattle quickly and safely—even across long distances
• To protect crops while still grazing nearby areas

"With virtual fencing we can run cattle. Without it, we wouldn’t run cattle at all."

Technology on the Farm – Robotics & Automation

Rob also uses swarm robot sprayers (10,000+ hours per year) for autonomous weed control, giving:

• Cleaner crop paddocks
• Better efficiency
• Less labour pressure during peak cropping
• A technology mindset that aligns well with virtual fencing

Using eShepherd in a Mixed Farming System

Grazing Areas

Rob now grazes cattle on:

• Creek systems
• Timber blocks
• Rough areas not suited for machinery
• Post-harvest barley stubble
• Road–to–paddock corridors
• Lease country
• Grass areas bordering crops

These areas were never grazed efficiently before due to fencing costs.

Moving Cattle with Virtual Laneways

Rob regularly moves cattle across 2–3 km of cropping country using 50 m wide virtual laneways:

• Cattle form a neat line and drift calmly
• Daughter (14) can move mobs alone
• Works even when crops are knee-high next to them
• Perfect for wet conditions when paddocks can’t be accessed by vehicle

Training & Behaviour

• Standard 2–3 day training works well
• Even difficult dairy cows adapted within days
• Bulls responded immediately and are extremely compliant
• Cattle confidently follow 90-degree corners
• Very rare escapes (only in tight creek benches early on)

Connectivity & Reliability

Despite marginal 4G coverage:

• Collars connect reliably
• Updates arrive within minutes
• One software improvement fixed early delays
• Collars run at lower voltage but still perform perfectly

Rob uses cellular collars exclusively (no base station).

Return on Investment

For Rob, ROI is clear:

• Trading a single steer/heifer per collar per year pays off the collar in 12 months
• Collar lifespan: 7–10 years
• Every additional year = profit
• No cost of internal fencing
• Ability to utilise free or cheap lease country
• Zero disruption to cropping operations

“There’s nothing on my farm that pays back like this.”

Questions and Answers

Q: How do the collars work with calves?

A: Cows stay contained. Calves roam through but always return to their mothers. Many operations report faster, heavier weaning because calves access better feed.

Q: At what size do animals need collar extension chains?

A: Mostly bulls or large-framed cows. Standard chains fit most animals.

Q: Can minerals or supplements still be offered during strip grazing?

A: Yes. Most producers place minerals near water or move them forward with each shift.

Virtual laneways can also direct cattle to central mineral points.

Q: Can multiple users create fences and monitor cattle?

A: Yes. Each staff member can have their own login with flexible permissions.

Q: Can you draw fences on neighbouring properties?

A: Yes. Simply zoom the map and draw virtual paddocks anywhere ideal for leased land etc.

Q: Can eShepherd be used to move cattle back to yards?

A: Yes. Virtual laneways are widely used for low-stress mustering.

Producers also use return-to-paddock mode for controlling escapees.

Q: Does the system work on bulls?

A: Yes. Bulls are highly compliant and respond quickly to audio cues.

Q: Do cattle navigate right-angle turns?

A: Yes. 90° corners work well. Sharper angles are not recommended.

Q: Will the system operate with marginal phone service?

A: Yes. If a phone gets 1–2 bars of 4G, collars typically work. A walk-test collar can confirm coverage.

Q: Can virtual fencing protect trees, sheds or waterways?

A: Yes. The exclusion zone tool can block cattle access to specific areas.

Q: Do old internal fences cause issues?

A: They can create tight “box-in” spaces. Most producers remove or map them as they transition fully to virtual fencing.

Updated on: 19/11/2025