Feed pad with rubber matting hailed as game changer
For Otago farmers Michelle and Rogan Borrie, a newly constructed feed pad on one of their three farms has been a game changer.
After many hours of brainstorming, trouble shooting and trialling, David Short “married” a traditional Lister handpiece with a direct drive brushless motor attached to the rear to create the Handypiece.
This is a portable shearing and tail trimming tool, available at a reasonable price, with no mains power required.
Slim to hold and familiar for anyone who has ever used a hand piece before, the unit allows users to keep on top of problems like fly strike, keeping animal health to the optimum. Offering variable speed from 2,600 – 3,500rpm, Handypiece can crutch between 300-400 sheep from one battery charge.
For dagging, crutching and trimming cows’ tails, the unit is typically at a mid-speed of 2,800 rpm. Those requiring a finer cut while shearing can wind the speed up to the 3,500rpm maximum.
The machine also allows alpaca shearers to use a traditional handpiece that is slim to hold but has the ability to reduce the speed to that of a clipper.
Handypiece also can be customised for left handed users or configured with the power cord out of the middle of the motor, by right and left-handed users.
Being a traditional handpiece, it takes all standard combs and cutters of any brand the user prefers.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
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