Reference: 07/104 A virtual fence for livestock that allows better use of pasture, protects the environment and reduces labour, is being developed by the CSIRO Food Futures Flagship using satellite technology. 13 June 2007 The project is focussed on developing an animal-friendly virtual fencing system for cattle that enables the animals to be confined without using fixed fences. At this stage in the development of what is designed to be a commercial product, the research team has developed a prototype system and successfully demonstrated its use on a herd of cattle. CSIRO’s Dr Andrew Fisher said the system works in a similar way to a conventional electric fence for livestock, except that the fence is invisible. It is a major improvement on existing virtual fencing approaches. “The boundaries are drawn entirely by GPS and exist only as a line on a computer,” Dr Fisher said “There are no wires or fixed transmitters used at all. Importantly, what we’re developing, achieves the same result as a conventional fence but without the need for posts and wire.” The system employs electronic collars which emit a sound to warn the cattle when they are approaching a virtual boundary line. Conducted strictly in line with animal welfare requirements, the virtual fencing project involves collaboration – under the umbrella of the Food Futures Flagship – between CSIRO Livestock Industries in Armidale and the CSIRO ICT Centre in Brisbane. “Importantly, what we’re developing, achieves the same result as a conventional fence but without the need for posts and wire.” Research team member, CSIRO Livestock Industries’ Dr Caroline Lee, said the collars contain advanced software to identify when a cow is near a fence line and which signal should be emitted. “Signal timing and duration are based on the behaviour of the cow, and the animals can learn about a virtual fence for the first time in less than an hour and avoid the fence boundary,” Dr Lee said. “The cattle learn, by associating the sound signal with their behaviour of approaching the virtual fence boundary which is programmed into the collars.” The scientists conducted measurements, overseen by an independent animal welfare expert, which show the animals are not unduly stressed by the virtual fence. According to CSIRO ICT Centre researcher, Dr Tim Wark, once the boundary is set, the sensor-based system is fully automated and self-sufficient. It also enables farmers to continuously monitor where their cattle are located. “Although there is still some work to be done in areas such as smart-power management before the system is commercially viable, we can envisage a farm of the future where farmers can fence their property from the comfort of their homesteads,” Dr Wark said. High resolution vision is available to the media at: Livestock virtually fenced in [external link]. Read more media releases in our Media.
Fast Facts The project is focussed on developing an animal-friendly virtual fencing system for cattle that enables the animals to be confined without using fixed fences At this stage in the development of what is designed to be a commercial product, the research team has developed a prototype system and successfully demonstrated its use on a herd of cattle the system works in a similar way to a conventional electric fence for livestock, except that the fence is invisible Contact Information Primary Contacts Dr Caroline Lee Research Scientist Livestock Industries Phone: 61 2 6776 1459 Fax: 61 2 6776 1333 Email: Caroline.Lee@csiro.au Dr Tim Wark Project Leader ICT Centre Wireless Sensor Networks Phone: 61 7 3327 4042 Fax: 61 7 3327 4455 Email: Tim.Wark@csiro.au media Contact Dr Lillian Sando Communications Advisor Livestock Industries Food, Health and Life Science Industries Group Phone: 61 7 3214 2385 Fax: 61 7 3214 2900 Email: Lillian.Sando@csiro.au
http://www.csiro.au/news/VirtualFencingMediaRelease.html
ReplyDeleteLivestock virtually fenced in
ReplyDeleteReference: 07/104
A virtual fence for livestock that allows better use of pasture, protects the environment and reduces labour, is being developed by the CSIRO Food Futures Flagship using satellite technology.
13 June 2007
The project is focussed on developing an animal-friendly virtual fencing system for cattle that enables the animals to be confined without using fixed fences. At this stage in the development of what is designed to be a commercial product, the research team has developed a prototype system and successfully demonstrated its use on a herd of cattle.
CSIRO’s Dr Andrew Fisher said the system works in a similar way to a conventional electric fence for livestock, except that the fence is invisible. It is a major improvement on existing virtual fencing approaches.
“The boundaries are drawn entirely by GPS and exist only as a line on a computer,” Dr Fisher said “There are no wires or fixed transmitters used at all. Importantly, what we’re developing, achieves the same result as a conventional fence but without the need for posts and wire.”
The system employs electronic collars which emit a sound to warn the cattle when they are approaching a virtual boundary line.
Conducted strictly in line with animal welfare requirements, the virtual fencing project involves collaboration – under the umbrella of the Food Futures Flagship – between CSIRO Livestock Industries in Armidale and the CSIRO ICT Centre in Brisbane.
“Importantly, what we’re developing, achieves the same result as a conventional fence but without the need for posts and wire.”
Research team member, CSIRO Livestock Industries’ Dr Caroline Lee, said the collars contain advanced software to identify when a cow is near a fence line and which signal should be emitted.
“Signal timing and duration are based on the behaviour of the cow, and the animals can learn about a virtual fence for the first time in less than an hour and avoid the fence boundary,” Dr Lee said. “The cattle learn, by associating the sound signal with their behaviour of approaching the virtual fence boundary which is programmed into the collars.”
The scientists conducted measurements, overseen by an independent animal welfare expert, which show the animals are not unduly stressed by the virtual fence.
According to CSIRO ICT Centre researcher, Dr Tim Wark, once the boundary is set, the sensor-based system is fully automated and self-sufficient. It also enables farmers to continuously monitor where their cattle are located.
“Although there is still some work to be done in areas such as smart-power management before the system is commercially viable, we can envisage a farm of the future where farmers can fence their property from the comfort of their homesteads,” Dr Wark said.
High resolution vision is available to the media at: Livestock virtually fenced in [external link].
Read more media releases in our Media.
Fast Facts
The project is focussed on developing an animal-friendly virtual fencing system for cattle that enables the animals to be confined without using fixed fences
At this stage in the development of what is designed to be a commercial product, the research team has developed a prototype system and successfully demonstrated its use on a herd of cattle
the system works in a similar way to a conventional electric fence for livestock, except that the fence is invisible
Contact Information
Primary Contacts
Dr Caroline Lee
Research Scientist
Livestock Industries
Phone: 61 2 6776 1459
Fax: 61 2 6776 1333
Email: Caroline.Lee@csiro.au
Dr Tim Wark
Project Leader
ICT Centre
Wireless Sensor Networks
Phone: 61 7 3327 4042
Fax: 61 7 3327 4455
Email: Tim.Wark@csiro.au
media Contact
Dr Lillian Sando
Communications Advisor
Livestock Industries
Food, Health and Life Science Industries Group
Phone: 61 7 3214 2385
Fax: 61 7 3214 2900
Email: Lillian.Sando@csiro.au