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# eShepherd Webinar AUG 2025 Episode 8

${youtube}[eShepherd Virtual Fencing Webinar August 2025 Episode  8](s5y5fG23Aa8)

### 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.