Introduction

The eShepherd system is built on decades of scientific research into how cattle learn and respond to their environment.

This research has resulted in a patented training algorithm that is designed to provide an animal with predictability and control. Whilst this automated training program reduces the need for operator intervention, it does require an understanding of how cattle think, how they learn, and what signs tell you that the system is working as intended or that an animal needs attention.

This guide covers:

• How cattle learn to respond to the virtual fence
• What good training looks like
• Animal welfare indicators to monitor
• What to do if something goes wrong

Core principle: The eShepherd system works with natural animal learning processes, not against them. When it is set up and operated correctly, cattle experience low and predictable levels of aversive stimulus. Your role as an operator is to create conditions where animals can learn quickly, comfortably, and reliably.

How Cattle Learn — The Science Behind eShepherd

eShepherd uses two well-established principles of animal learning.

Classical conditioning is learning through association. A previously neutral stimulus (the audio cue) is repeatedly paired with an aversive stimulus (the pulse) until the animal responds to the audio cue alone. This is the same mechanism by which cattle learn to avoid an electric fence after one or two contacts.

Operant conditioning is learning through consequences. The animal discovers that a specific behaviour (turning away from the boundary) removes the unpleasant consequence (the pulse). The animal gains control over its own experience. This is critical to animal welfare — an animal that understands how to avoid discomfort is not a stressed animal.

Together, these two processes produce a conditioned animal that responds to the audio cue alone and rarely requires a pulse stimulus at all.

The eShepherd training algorithm is designed around how an animal's stress response depends on its ability to predict and control what happens to it.

An animal that:

• Can predict when a stimulus will occur (high predictability), and
• Can control whether it receives that stimulus (high control)

…is a low-stress animal.

An animal that receives random, unpredictable, or unavoidable stimuli is a high-stress animal — and is also one that will not learn effectively.

Practical implication: Everything about how you set up and manage your virtual paddocks affects the animal's ability to predict and avoid the boundary. Poor paddock design or rushed training creates unpredictability and reduces control. This impacts both animal welfare and system effectiveness.

What Happens During Training

The training period lasts between 7–10 days for a mob of up to 500 head, but note that the animals' learning does not stop there. They will continue to become more skilled at navigating virtual fence boundaries as time passes. In every mob there are 'leaders' and followers'. The 'followers' tend to stay away from the virtual boundary and observe the responses from the 'leaders'. Hence, it may take longer for those 'followers' to learn how to respond correctly to avoid the pulse stimulus.

During the training period:

1. Animals are introduced to a simple Virtual Paddock (no complex boundaries).
2. As animals approach the boundary, they hear the audio cue.
3. Animals that do not respond receive the aversive pulse stimulus.
4. Over time, animals learn to turn away at the audio cue alone.
5. The eShepherd system monitors each animal's learning metrics automatically (called the Audio Ratio described below)
6. When training metrics are met, the platform will display this information, confirming the mob is ready for a more complex Virtual Paddock.

Setting Up for Successful Training

Before activating the training paddock, confirm the following:

• All animals are fitted with a Neckband
• All Neckbands and animals are registered in the eShepherd Web App
• The training paddock design has been discussed with the eShepherd Team
• The training paddock is free from dense shrub / vegetation and challenging terrain
• Physical boundary fences in the training paddock are in good repair
• Temporary electric fences have been put up if necessary (to limit the size of the exclusion zone)
• There is sufficient feed and a working water point for a minimum of 3 days and up to 10 days
• Animals have acclimatised to the paddock and are grazing or resting calmly
• A simple Virtual Paddock has been created for the training paddock

Designing the Training Virtual Paddock

Good paddock design is one of the most important welfare controls in the system.

Rules for the training Virtual Paddock:

• Divide the physical paddock so that approximately 2/3 is an 'inclusion zone' and 1/3 is an 'exclusion zone'. This ensures that if an animal enters the exclusion zone, it will still find its way back to the inclusion zone, allowing the training to resume.
• Keep all virtual fence boundaries as straight as possible and simple to navigate
• Where a segment has corners, keep angles greater than 145 degrees (closer to 180 is better)
• Set the fence at least 30m [30 yards] from any water point, feed supplement, or shelter
• Where the Virtual Paddock runs near a physical fence, set it at least 5m inside or outside the physical fence
• Allow animals to move 20–50m into the Exclusion Zone — this gives them room to learn and turn around without becoming trapped

Animal Breed and Temperament Considerations

Note that some breeds may behave differently when they are released into a new pasture.

Bos Taurus breeds like Angus or Herefords tend to move into a new paddock / pasture and begin grazing immediately. If you have observed this behaviour from your animals, then you may introduce them to the training paddock with an active virtual fence already enabled.

Bos indicus breeds (Brahman, Nelore etc) have a tendency to rapidly explore the extends of the physical paddock that they are released into. This could result in the animals "running into" the virtual fence boundary at pace and as a whole mob. To prevent this "unpleasant introduction" to virtual fencing, only turn on the virtual fence once the animals have settled and are grazing calmly.

Activating the Training Paddock

• Ensure animals are calmly grazing, walking, or resting in the Inclusion Zone before activating the Virtual Paddock (taking the breed considerations into account)
• Allow animals to approach the boundary in their own time — never use pressure or mustering to force animals toward an active Virtual Paddock
• It may take several days for all animals in a mob to interact with the boundary and demonstrate learning
• Monitor the mob regularly during the training period

Monitoring the Training Progress

The eShepherd web app displays the audio-pulse ratio for each animal. You can find this Audio Ratio for each animal in the Animal menu.

When an animal first encounters a virtual fence boundary, it hears an audio tone. Not yet understanding what this means, it will cross the boundary and receive an electrical pulse — resulting in a 50% audio-pulse ratio (one audio tone, one pulse).

As the animal learns to turn away from the boundary when it hears the tone, it receives the audio tone without needing the pulse stimulus. The number of audio tones therefore increases relative to the number of pulses, and the audio ratio rises accordingly.

When an individual animal's audio ratio exceeds 80%, this is a strong indication that it has learned to respond correctly to the audio tone alone.

Note that this is not the end of the animals learning, but is a useful guide to understanding its progress.

Assessing the Mob or Herd

Within any mob or herd, there are leaders and followers. Followers tend to interact less with the virtual fence boundary, so they typically take longer to reach an audio ratio above 80%.

For this reason, we assess training progress at the group level by looking at what percentage of animals in the mob or herd have reached an audio ratio above 80%.

Once 80% of animals in the mob or herd have exceeded an 80% audio ratio, the group is considered sufficiently skilled to manage more complex virtual fence boundaries.

The training progress for the Mob/Herd is displayed in the Mob/Herd menu. A mob/herd with less that 80% of 'trained' animals will display a yellow L plate, indicating their are still in the learning phase. You can see the meaning of the L plate icon by hovering your mouse over it.

When more than 80% of animals have reached an audio ratio of 80%, the icon will change to a 'graduation hat' indicating that the mob is ready for more complex virtual fencing scenarios.

Signs of Good Learning

A well-trained animal shows:

• Calm grazing behaviour throughout the paddock
• Smooth, unhurried turns when approaching the fence boundary
• Consistent responses — always turning at the audio cue without requiring a pulse
• Normal social behaviour — moving with the mob, grazing, resting
• Normal weight gain — well-managed rotational grazing with eShepherd typically produces consistent weight gain

Individual Animals That Are Not Learning

With now many years of experience in virtual fencing on different breeds across the globe, we are pleased that we have not encountered an animal that has not been able to learn and adapt to the virtual fencing system.

However, not all animals will train and learn at the same rate. If you do observe any animal showing signs of distress or confusion

• Consult with your eShepherd representative
• Continue training for an extended period
• Adjust the Virtual Paddock design if required or advised
• And you may remove the animal from the mob for a period of time and pause its exposure to the virtual fencing stimulus.

Your Responsibilities as an eShepherd Operator

You have accepted the following responsibilities by using the eShepherd system:

• Complete all required product training before operating the system
• Operate the system in accordance with the training provided
• Ensure any other person operating the system on your property is also properly trained
• Monitor animal welfare regularly — the system supports this but does not replace physical inspection
• Act on any animal welfare alerts promptly
• Report any concerns to your eShepherd representative
• Inspect Neckband fitment at regular intervals
• Know how to deactivate Virtual Paddocks in an emergency

Updated on: 18/03/2026