Remote water monitoring a 'gamechanger' for Pathfinder Angus

Photo caption: 24/7 satellite or cellular connectivity for mobiles and laptops.

With 3500 head of cattle spread across seven properties spanning two states, keeping water up to the herd requires the Moyle family to keep their finger on the pulse with water levels in their tanks and troughs. While the importance of water monitoring is not specific to the Moyles, the sheer size and scale of the Pathfinder enterprise means water runs could be an incredibly time-intensive process, taking up valuable hours which could be spent on other jobs.

Elle Moyle, who lives at the main Pathfinder property just out of Penshurst, Victoria, said keeping water up to cattle could be a huge task.

Our cattle consume 70-100 litres of water a day, and even more than that for lactating cows. You just can't afford for them to be without water on any day, particularly a hot day.

'Our cattle consume 70-100 litres of water a day, and even more than that for lactating cows,' Elle says. 'You just can't afford for them to be without water on any day, particularly a hot day.'

The importance of water monitoring, coupled with the large time and fuel input required to keep up to the task, had the Moyles looking for options to make the job easier to tackle.

Farmbot units on water tanks at Pathfinder Angus.

About five years ago, the Moyles decided to install Farmbot units on all the water tanks across their properties, to boost their water monitoring capabilities.

'The development of remote water monitoring technology was still in its early stages,' said Elle, 'but we're always interested in how we can use the latest technology to make our life easier and make our farming more efficient.'.

Each of the Moyles' Farmbot units sits on the tops of their respective tanks, and is attached to a water level sensor probe which is fed down inside the tank.

In total, the Moyles have purchased 25 of the units, which were bought and installed across their farms spanning from Padthaway, South Australia, to Gazette, Victoria.

Upon installation of each Farmbot unit, the Moyles had to input the measurements and total capacity of each tank into the associated programming technology, with the sensors then able to detect the water level in each tank within a two-centimetre accuracy.

The tanks and their respective percentiles are presented on a map view on the Farmbot website, with the percentiles colour-coded based on their status. A percentile in green means there are no alerts, orange figures represent warnings, while red figures show a critical error.

In addition to these percentiles, a graph of a tank's water level is presented, if the percentile figure is clicked on.

Text and email alerts are also sent out to all staff if a problem is detected in any of the tanks. These alerts, combined with the graphical data available in the app, allow the Moyles to easily diagnose the causes of problems.

Text and email alerts are also sent out to all staff if a problem is detected in any of the tanks. These alerts, combined with the graphical data available in the app, allow the Moyles to easily diagnose the causes of problems.

'We can clearly see if there is a sudden drop, or a slow decrease, which helps us to work out the problem pretty much straightaway,' Elle says.

'For example, if there's a sudden drop, a cow has likely broken a trough lid, but if (the drop in water level) is steady, then we're likely looking at a leak which hasn't been contained. Either way, we can go out there and fix the problem quickly, rather than being busy and not seeing it for a few days.'

'If a problem like that was to go undetected, even for a day or two, the potential detriment to the animals could be massive.'

While the option is there to add Farmbot monitors to every trough, Elle says the extra cost is not warranted at this point.

'In a feedlot situation, it would be beneficial to have a sensor in the trough, but because our cattle are run in open paddocks, the pressure on the trough system isn't as big as if we were feedlotting,' she says.

Elle Moyle with her parents at Pathfinder Angus.

Of all the benefits of using Farmbot, Elle says the peace of mind the technology provides is the greatest.

'Knowing that you'll be alerted to a problem straightaway, even if you aren't physically at that location, is a huge relief, particularly in the summer, but in the winter as well,' Elle says. 'On hot days, we used to have to do the water run and check every tank and trough. You still have to check certain troughs, but you know there is water getting to them.'

On hot days, we used to have to do the water run and check every tank and trough. You still have to check certain troughs, but you know there is water getting to them.

While it's difficult to put numbers around the time and fuel savings that have arisen from the Moyles' use of Farmbot, Elle said the subscription to Farmbot is 'the best money we've ever spent' - and a source of great enjoyment for her father, Nick.

'Dad loves it, the Farmbot app is like his version of Instagram - he's on it checking everything all the time regardless if there are alerts or not. He just loves it.'

For anyone considering an investment in Farmbot technology, Elle says even equipping one tank with a unit could be a great place to start.

The more data you have, the more knowledge you have, and the more you can do with it. But starting out, you could just install the technology on your main tank, or the one which is furthest away, or on one that could slip your mind.

'The more data you have, the more knowledge you have, and the more you can do with it. But starting out, you could just install the technology on your main tank, or the one which is furthest away, or on one that could slip your mind.'

Going forward, the Moyles will continue to be on the lookout for new technology, with tags on working bulls potentially on the horizon for Pathfinder. Elle is also interested in the benefits of virtual fencing, which may be in the pipeline in the future.

'We don't want to be stuck on the farm 24/7, we want a farm that as much as it can, can look after itself, so we can enjoy life while keeping those high welfare standards for our animals," Elle says.

'Farmbot is one of the things which allows for that. Whatever other technology comes up to help with our efficiency, chances are we'll be willing to try it out.'