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# eShepherd Webinar SEP 2025 Episode 9

${youtube}[eShepherd Virtual Fencing Webinar September 2025 Episode 9](M3XFqJRzzdo)
### Recap

###### New Feature Overview – Drawing Virtual Fences in the Mobile App

The session opened with a walkthrough of the **new “Add VP” (Virtual Paddock)** feature in the eShepherd mobile app.
Customers can now:
* Use the **location arrow** to show their current position (blue dot).
* Tap **Add → Add VP** to create a new virtual paddock directly from the field.
* Drop the first point on their location or anywhere on the map.
* Drag fence points to draw their boundary.
* Rename the virtual paddock and **save or activate** it on the spot.
This update gives users far more flexibility to build and activate fences while standing in the paddock.


###### Customer Experience – Kev (Western Australia)

###### Operation Background
Kev runs a **Limousin breeding herd** in southwest Western Australia, managing two home blocks and a leased block. His area has:
* Very **sandy soils**
* A mix of breeding cows and yearling heifers
* A **regenerative system** integrating cattle and chickens
He began using eShepherd earlier in the year on his breeding cows.


###### Fitting and Training Cattle

* Reactions to neckbands ranged from **no response** to a short bout of bucking, but all settled quickly.
* Older cows especially showed very calm behaviour.
* Cattle adapted to the audio cue immediately—no formal “training” was required.


###### Grazing Management & Calving

* Cows calved from **March to June** while wearing neckbands with no issues.
* Virtual fencing allowed Kev to **see when cows separated from the herd**, often signalling calving.
* If intervention was needed, he could locate animals immediately using the app.
* Calves gradually roamed further as they grew, sometimes 150m away, without causing cows to breach the fence.


###### Rotational Grazing & Land Improvement

Before eShepherd, Kev had **never practiced rotational grazing**.
Now he is achieving:
* Consistent **high-quality grass**
* Longer rest periods and better regrowth
* A strong pairing of cattle grazing followed by **chicken manure**, boosting soil fertility
* Grass recovering to shin height within 3 weeks in growing seasons
* Excellent control of wet, boggy areas via virtual boundaries
Kev says their cows and calves have **never performed as well** as they have since adopting rotational grazing supported by eShepherd.


###### Ease of Movement & Laneways

Kev routinely uses virtual laneways (25–30m wide) to:
* Funnel cattle to yards
* Guide animals safely over wet ground
* Make mustering almost effortless
* Move stock without motorbikes or stress
Leaders in the mob quickly detect new grazing areas, followed by the rest of the herd.


###### Using Virtual Paddocks Across Multiple Blocks

Kev uses the system across:
* Two sandy-soil home blocks
* A northern leased block with older fencing
eShepherd keeps all animals contained—even areas previously prone to escapes.
He prefers:
* The **mobile app** for turning fences on/off
* The **web app** for drawing fences due to its precision


###### Technical Performance

Connectivity

* Receives one bar of 5G coverage and has **no communication issues**.
* The system updates virtual paddock settings on animals within ~10–15 minutes.


###### Battery

* Neckbands operate **1–2 weeks without sunlight**.
* Minimises power use when cattle are far from the boundary.
* Customer feedback from across Australia confirms excellent battery autonomy.

### Questions and Answers

**Q: How long do cattle take to learn the virtual boundary?**
**A:** Almost immediately. Most respond to the audio within the first day.

**Q: Can cows calve while wearing neckbands?**
**A:** Yes. Customers use them **year-round**, including during calving seasons.

**Q: Does the neckband interfere with cow–calf interaction?**
**A:** No. Cows mother-up normally. Calves often use neckbands to scratch an itch.

**Q: What happens if an animal walks through the virtual fence?**
**A:**
* If fleeing (flight mode), the neckband does **nothing** for safety.
* Otherwise, it applies audio → pulse up to **three times**.
* With *Return to Paddock* enabled, the neckband guides the animal back by discouraging movement **further away**, while allowing it to walk back freely.

**Q: How accurate are the neckbands for locating animals?**
**A:** Very accurate—within **half a meter**.
Kev easily finds lost neckbands using the phone’s tracking.

**Q: What cell coverage is needed?**
**A:** If your phone can send a SMS, eShepherd typically works.
Where coverage is poor, Gallagher assesses whether a **LoRa base station** is required.

**Q: Will virtual fencing work during wet seasons or in boggy terrain?**
**A:** Yes. Users can draw exclusion areas or avoid wet zones entirely.

**Q: Does rotational grazing really improve grass growth?**
**A:** Kev reports a **surplus of grass for the first time ever**, with strong regrowth and healthier soil.