Agersens raises $14.75 million to develop IoT agri-tech market

Melbourne agri-technology developer Agersens has raised $14.75 million to speed market penetration of its eShepherd virtual fencing system for beef and dairy cattle.

The IoT-based eShepherd collar, based on technology originally developed by CSIRO, has been making waves in animal husbandry, as reported in @AuManufacturing news.

Cattle wear the eShepherd collar, which includes an embedded accelerometer and GPS reader, allowing farmers to remotely monitor location, health and other data.

Now the company has raised $14.75 million from existing shareholders, including Gallagher Group, a global leader in electric fencing systems and livestock weighing.

Agersens will scale up while Gallagher will take over marketing and sales of eShepherd.

Agersens chairman, Andrew Maxwell said: “Our investors have taken a considered view of the growth potential of eShepherd.

“They believe in the virtual fencing value proposition and its potential to transform livestock production globally.”

Gallagher Animal Management marketing manager, Mark Harris said eShepherd would unlock environmental, productivity and labour saving possibilities for pastoral farming.

Harris said: “Gallagher has been promoting managed grazing systems using electric fencing for more than 80 years, and eShepherd is the next major development for improved grazing.

“For this reason, Gallagher has taken a significant interest in Agersens as part of this capital raising”.

Agersens, together with Gallagher, will be showcasing the eShepherd technology at Fieldays at Mystery Creek in New Zealand later this month.

Picture: Agersens

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