How to turn on and off virtual paddocks

This article explains how to turn virtual paddocks (VPs) on and off using the Mobs panel. This ensures the command is applied consistently across all animals in the mob.

Keep in mind that activation and deactivation are not instant. Once a command is sent, it takes some time for all neckbands to confirm, since this depends on your neckband cadence and coverage on the property. Be patient during this time and avoid sending conflicting commands while the system is still processing.

Turning On a VP

You can select more than one mob and activate them all at once. Pick a single virtual paddock and every mob you've selected moves into it together as one command.

Step 1. Open the Mobs panel and tick the checkbox next to the mob you want to move. The Turn On VP button will appear in the bottom-right toolbar. Tap it.

You're not locked into whatever mobs you ticked before opening the dialog. Tap the Mob field at the top of Turn On VP and you'll get the same kind of checkbox list, so you can add or remove mobs from here too. There's a search bar if you're after a particular one.

Step 2. The Turn On VP dialog will open. Under Type, select ASAP to activate immediately.

Step 3. Tap the To dropdown to open the VP list. Select the virtual paddock you want to move the mob into.

Step 4. The selected VP will be highlighted on the map. Tap the orange tick to confirm and send the activation command.

Step 5. A Success, Activation Requested message will appear. The app will switch to the Status panel automatically, showing the activation at the top with a status of Still confirming.

Step 6. While waiting, you can monitor progress in the Activations panel. The dot indicators fill from left to right as each neckband confirms. Once all dots are filled, the status will change to Completed.

⚠️ Do not turn off the previous VP while an activation is still confirming. This will override the new activation command and leave your animals uncontained. Wait for the status to show Completed before making any further changes.

Turning Off a VP

Turning off a VP follows the same flow. Open the Mobs panel, tick the checkbox next to one or more mobs, and tap the Turn Off VP button in the bottom-right toolbar. Confirm when prompted. The deactivation command will be sent to all neckbands in the mob and will appear in the Activations panel as a new entry with Still confirming status. As with turning on, allow time for all neckbands to confirm before issuing any further commands.

Moving to a new VP

When moving a mob from one VP to another, there is no need to turn off the current VP first. Simply select the mob and tap Turn On VP, then select the new paddock. The system will handle the transition, and the previous VP will automatically deactivate once the new one is confirmed.

Keeping animals contained during the transition

For a smooth transition with no gaps in containment, use the Copy function to build the new VP so it overlaps the current one:

1. Copy the current VP and extend it into the fresh grazing area you want to give the animals, then save. The new VP must fully overlap the old one so animals can work out that the boundary has extended.
2. Select the mob and use Turn On VP to activate the new (larger) VP. You do not need to turn off the old VP first, and there is no period without a VP — the old VP deactivates and the new one activates simultaneously, keeping animals fully contained throughout.
3. Once all animals have moved into the fresh area (motivated by new feed or other factors), back fence them: copy the VP again, but this time bring the boundary in to close off the already-grazed area, and use Turn On VP once more.

Ideally, do this as a two-part move: shift the animals forward first, then bring the back fence in an hour or so later (for example, as a second scheduled move). This gives any stragglers time to learn and move forward into the new break before the boundary activates behind them, avoiding unintended stimulus for animals still outside the new boundary. This is especially important when the Return to Paddock (RTP) feature is on.

What the VP lines mean during a transition

During a transition, both virtual paddocks appear as solid orange lines, indicating both are active while the old one progressively deactivates and the new one activates. Solid orange means a VP is active; dashed orange means it is inactive. Animals can move freely across the overlapping solid line into the new area without receiving any stimulus.

Check the transition progress in the Status panel. A status of, for example, 80% means 80% of the animals have received the new VP and 20% are still pending — so the old VP will continue to show as a solid line until the status reaches 100% and no animals remain on the old VP.

Animals already active on the old VP but outside a new standalone VP: If you turn on a new VP that does not overlap where the animals currently are, they can freely walk into it without stimulus on the way in, but they will be uncontained until they do so. If they might drift too far before walking in (for example, to water), physically push them into the new VP. To keep them contained the whole time, use the copy-and-overlap method above instead.

Summary

Always manage VP activation at the mob level for consistent results across all animals. Activation and deactivation take time, so monitor progress in the Status panel and wait for Completed before making further changes. When moving between paddocks, just turn on the new VP without turning off the old one first.

v1.1, 7/2026

Updated on: 21/08/2026