Virtual fencing technology

Project outcome and purpose

In response to a referral from Agriculture Senior Officials, the Animal Welfare Task Group (AWTG), via a subgroup consisting of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia, and the Commonwealth as project manager, examined the use of virtual fencing technology - GPS-enabled neckband or collar devices worn by livestock producing electric pulses to deter animals from approaching or crossing a virtual fence boundary.

In Australia, states and territories regulate the use of virtual fencing. The AWTG project focused on examining animal welfare issues associated with virtual fencing technology, with a view to harmonising the approach to the use of this technology across jurisdictions. Informed by this work, several Australian jurisdictions have introduced regulations to permit the use of virtual fencing for cattle, following their own consultation processes.

In June 2026, the AWTG agreed that the project had fulfilled its intended purpose and is complete, having developed an Australian Animal Welfare Guide for Virtual Fencing, which was last revised in March 2026. This guide served as a point-in-time reference document, which provided a science and evidence base to support jurisdictions in their regulatory decision making.

Ongoing technological development and animal welfare research continues to evolve beyond the scope of the guide. No further work on the guide is being completed by the AWTG. However, it remains available to jurisdictions to be used as they see fit, intended to be considered by jurisdictions in light of the most current evidence on virtual fencing technology.

For further information on the commercial use of virtual fencing technology in each jurisdiction, refer to State and Territory Government Animal Welfare Links and Legislation to contact your relevant state or territory.

Project components

Scientific literature review

In February 2022, the subgroup identified the need to conduct an independent scientific literature review on animal welfare considerations for virtual fencing for livestock. The work of the subgroup was underpinned by this scientific literature review.

View a copy of the finalised literature review:

Due to the rapidly evolving nature of virtual fencing technology and associated animal welfare research, the independent scientific literature review has an accompanying addendum which captures additional and more detailed information on the technology since the finalisation of the literature review. Information contained within the addendum does not form part of the literature review but was considered separately by the subgroup.

View a copy of the addendum:

Addendum

• Addendum – additional information provided by Halter (PDF 209 KB)
• Addendum – additional information provided by Halter (DOCX 30.4 KB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact us for help.

Stakeholder Reference Group

In April 2024, the subgroup established a Stakeholder Reference Group (SRG) to inform work to support harmonisation. Membership of the SRG consisted of agricultural and animal welfare scientists and representatives from agricultural industry groups, animal welfare organisations and the veterinary industry from across Australia, with one representative from New Zealand. A series of meetings of the SRG were convened in mid-2024. The work of the subgroup considered input provided by the SRG.

View a copy of the SRG Terms of Reference:

Engagement with virtual fencing suppliers and end users

Throughout 2024, the subgroup met individually with three commercial virtual fencing suppliers to understand their products. Upon invitation by one virtual fencing supplier, several members of the subgroup conducted field visits to a dairy and beef cattle property to observe virtual fencing technology first-hand. The visits included engagement with representatives from the virtual fencing supplier and farmers as end users of the technology. Observations and stakeholder views from these visits were captured, and subsequently informed regulatory decisions on virtual fencing by some jurisdictions.

Contacting the AWTG

Email: awtg@aff.gov.au 
Post: AWTG c/- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry,
GPO Box 858, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia