High tech collars fitted to sheep could be the next frontier when it comes to controlling the spread of weeds.
The CSIRO has received almost $300,000 from the federal government to research and develop a “virtual fence” system for farms.
Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Barnaby Joyce said the project was part of the government's $50-million investment over four years in the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.
He said the project’s aim was to help farmers and their communities better manage established pest animals and weeds.
"The CSIRO will receive $299,314 to accelerate development of a 'virtual fence' system for weed control using sheep," Mr Joyce said.
With this technology the sheep wear collars which contain them in a 'virtual fence' area, which is set by the farmer.
- Barnaby Joyce
"Grazing management is a proven tool for reducing the impact of common weeds on agricultural production and ecosystems.
“However it only works if farmers can target the right area in a paddock at the right time,” he said.
"With this technology the sheep wear collars which contain them in a 'virtual fence' area, which is set by the farmer.
"If the trials show real potential, this project could significantly increase the area of Australia that can benefit from virtual fence technology." Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton welcomed the government's action on pests and weeds.
"Every year pest animals and weeds cost our farmers about $4 billion through control tools and lost production," Mr Coulton said.
"We want our farmers and land managers to be ahead of the game.
"Improving and finding new ways to manage pest animals and weeds and ensuring people can access those tools as soon as possible is critical to driving greater returns through the farmgate."
Virtual fencing works by declaring some zones off-limits and, should an animal stray into an exclusion area, a “punishment” in the form of an electric shock emanates out of the collar.
The CSIRO first developed the collars about 10 years ago and ongoing development and testing has refined the concept.
While CSIRO has made it clear the collars will never replace a real fence, in remote areas in which fencing costs are prohibitive they can be a practical way to contain a mob. But in a 2012 report detailing field work, CSIRO researchers made it clear that the effectiveness of virtual fences did vary widely across the spectrum of individuals in a mob.
“Virtual fences can be used to alter the distribution of grazing sheep within large fenced areas although they cannot replace conventional fences for absolute control,” the report said.
