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# eShepherd Webinar JUL 2025 Episode 7

${youtube}[eShepherd Virtual Fencing Webinar July 2025 Episode 7](TS5XJNn1WCk)
### Recap

###### Introduction and Webinar Purpose

Jamie from the New Zealand team opened the webinar and welcomed attendees to the seventh session in the series. He introduced guest speakers:
* **George** – a bull-beef producer from Taranaki, New Zealand
* **Daniel & Kimmy** – ranchers from Oregon, USA
He also noted that users could ask questions in the chat and that Zippo would cover practical platform tips at the end of the session.


### Customer Experience – George (Taranaki, New Zealand)

###### Operation Background

George runs a **bull technical grazing (“techno”) system** on two large river-flat blocks (approx. 30 ha each). Before eShepherd:
* Fences on the river flats were old and failing
* Grazing required long travel times and dangerous access tracks
* Manual shifts every 1–2 days were labour-intensive
eShepherd was adopted as a **labour-saving alternative** to replace cross-fencing and enable precise, daily shifts without physically travelling to the block.


###### Grazing System & Setup

* Each block is divided into **eight long lanes**, managed as a race-track system.
* Bulls enter the system at **~220 kg** and stay for 12 months, aiming to finish at **600 kg**.
* Each mob runs in a rotation of **~120 cells**, with **daily shifts at 10am**.
* George schedules **a week’s worth of moves in 30–40 minutes** from his laptop—even while away on holiday.


###### Pasture & Performance Benefits

* Daily, consistent shifts provide far more control than 2-day manual shifts.
* Strong, visible **grazing lines appear within 10 days**.
* Maintaining tight winter covers allows **faster compensatory growth** in spring.
* Bulls remain calm and well-behaved despite less human interaction—helped by small mob sizes and consistent routines.
* The system has lifted profitability to around **$4,000 per hectare** on blocks that previously performed poorly.


###### Daily Operation & Stockmanship

* George visits the block every **1–2 weeks** to check animals and pasture.
* Uses the web app to map and schedule moves, the app for day-to-day visibility.
* Weather-driven decisions (e.g., upcoming cold/wet snaps) can be made instantly by adjusting schedules or giving larger breaks.
* Multiple mobs of different weights can be managed simultaneously—each following their dedicated lanes.


###### Infrastructure Considerations

* Water access remains critical—virtual fencing **does not replace water infrastructure**.
* Where needed, George uses a **single wire down the centre lane** to ensure bulls can drink without interacting with the virtual boundary.
* On the northern block, high-quality physical fences allowed the system to be adapted using a “racetrack inside each paddock” design.


###### Key Advice to New Users

George recommends:
* **Start small** to learn the system before scaling up.
* Remember that eShepherd replaces **labour**, not water infrastructure.
* Expect a learning period as you discover the best setup for your property.
* Build confidence, then expand steadily across more mobs or paddocks.


### Customer Experience – Daniel & Kimmy (Oregon, USA)

###### Operation Background
Daniel and Kimmy run cattle across **~8,000 acres** of mountainous country. Physical cross-fencing is difficult due to:
* Timber blocks
* Heavy elk pressure
* Frequent storm damage and fallen trees
* Large landscapes with challenging access
eShepherd replaced the constant labour and stress involved with repairing and maintaining physical fences.


###### How eShepherd Is Used on Their Ranch
* Large virtual paddocks (300–500 acres) managed for **30-day grazing windows**.
* Bulls and cows remain in tight, controlled groups.
* Registered Angus bulls stay in their intended mobs—even when separated by just meters.
* Computer and phone apps make it simple to check locations, behaviour, and graze pressure.


##### Key Benefits Experienced

###### 1. Containment & Peace of Mind
* Daniel always knows exactly where his cows are.
* No more calls from neighbours reporting escaped cattle.
* He confidently monitors animals **20+ times a day** on his phone.

###### 2. Calving Management
* The app shows when a cow leaves the mob—almost always indicating calving.
* They saved multiple calves and cows by **intervening early** thanks to real-time location visibility.
* Cows calving in open country are now easy to find, even in timber.

###### 3. Bull Management
* Bulls stay fully contained—even face-to-face across virtual lines.
* No breeding mix-ups.
* Helps tighten breeding windows by keeping bulls close to open cows.

###### 4. Wildfire Response
When a wildfire approached while they were away, Daniel used eShepherd to:
* Stop cattle from returning up the mountain
* Gradually move them downhill over two days
* Stage them at the gate ready for evacuation on arrival
This avoided major loss of stock seen in neighbouring operations.

###### 5. Winter Feeding Strategy
* Plans to adopt multi-day feed breaks (every 4–5 days) instead of daily feeding.
* Expects significant labour savings.


###### General Observations
* Bulls are the *most* compliant group.
* Calves roam through boundaries but always return to their mothers.
* Yearling heifers took longer to learn but adapted well.
* Cross-fences will eventually be removed entirely on parts of the ranch.


### Questions and Answers

**Q: Do animals escape?**
**A:** Rarely.
* In tight systems, a few may drift 20m out then return.
* In extensive systems, wildlife or predators may push an animal out, but they almost always walk back voluntarily.
* Virtual fencing avoids whole-mob escapes caused by polywire breaks.

**Q: What happens when cows are calving?**
**A:**
* Both users safely moved cattle with newborn calves.
* Calves often roam far (50 yards to 700+ metres depending on terrain).
* Cows wait calmly at the virtual boundary for calves to return.

**Q: How do multiple mobs work in one paddock?**
**A:**
* Very possible.
* Bulls can meet across virtual lines without crossing.
* Single-wire dividers or careful paddock shaping help when mobs are close.

**Q: Can the system fail?**
**A:**
* Occasional outages (e.g., cell towers, lightning strikes) occur but resolve quickly.
* Neckbands hold a virtual fence for 24 hours without connection.
* Overall reliability reported as “excellent.”

**Q: Is virtual fencing a replacement for water infrastructure?**
**A:**
**No.**
You still need reliable, well-placed water.
Virtual fencing replaces **labour**, not water.

**Q: How long does it take to set up paddocks?**
**A:**
* George: ~30–40 minutes per week for 10 mobs.
* Daniel: Moves paddocks every few days or weeks depending on graze pressure.