Virtual fencing for livestock

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2019 set out when and how electronic collars can be used, sold, hired or supplied for use on animals in Victoria. This includes electronic collars used on livestock for virtual fencing.

Electronic collars are defined in the regulations as an animal collar that is designed to be capable of imparting an electric shock to an animal.

In Victoria electronic collars can only be used on:

• dogs (for the purposes of remote training, anti-bark training or confinement)
• cats (for confinement purposes only)
• cattle (for confinement purposes only)
• cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, camels, alpacas and llamas for research purposes.

Electronic collars cannot be used on any other species.

Virtual fencing and herding for cattle

Only approved electronic collar systems can be used on cattle in Victoria (except under research conditions).

• Information for farmers
• Information for manufacturers – Applications for approval of electronic collar systems
• Sale, hire or supply of electronic collar systems for cattle

Virtual fencing and herding for other livestock species

The use and sale of electronic collars (virtual fencing and herding technology) for sheep, goats, pigs, camels, alpacas and llamas in Victoria is allowed for as part of a scientific procedure, or program of scientific procedures, approved under a licence granted under Part 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986. Use of unapproved electronic collar systems for cattle is only allowed for research purposes.

There are no limitations on the sale of electronic collars for livestock to purchasers outside of Victoria.

The sale of electronic collars for cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, camels, alpacas and llamas for research purposes is permitted under the following conditions.

A person must not sell, hire or supply an electronic collar unless they maintain a record of the following details about the purchaser, hirer or recipient of the collar for a period of 7 years:

• the full name of the purchaser, hirer or recipient
• the street address of the property where the electronic collar is to be used
• contact telephone number or email address for the purchaser, hirer or recipient
• the date of sale, hire or supply of the electronic collar
• if the street address is in Victoria then the seller, hirer or supplier must obtain written evidence from the recipient that the electronic collars are only going to be used as part of a licensed scientific procedure.