Rotational grazing has become one of New Zealand’s most tools for productive, sustainable farming and its success was made possible by a scientific breakthrough in the 1960s that transformed how livestock could be managed on pasture. That breakthrough was the unshortable electric fence, with a low‑impedance design that finally allowed fences to hold their voltage even when touched by grass or operating in wet conditions. 

The development of the unshortable electric fence was a gamechanger for farmers that gave rise to rotational grazing.

With reliable electric fencing in place, farmers could subdivide paddocks more easily and shift animals with precision, unlocking the benefits of controlled rotational grazing. This system increased milk production per hectare by 5–10% and improved nutrient efficiency across pasture systems, advances that reshaped New Zealand’s dairy sector.  The innovation also seeded a thriving agritech industry, with New Zealand electric fencing companies now supplying over half of global exports. 

Today, rotational grazing is entering a new era. GPS-enabled virtual fencing is doing for the 2020s what the unshortable fence did for the 1960s - removing labour barriers, increasing flexibility, and giving farmers real‑time control over herd movement.