Getting sheep shape at Pyramid Farm
The vineyards at Pyramid Farm in Marlborough’s Avon Valley have never been run of the mill, with plantings that follow the natural contours of the land, 250 metres above sea level.
Hecton Products, whose name is familiar to many New Zealand sheep farmers, has a new product — Mobile Stock Worker.
This versatile handling unit is designed for easy transport around the farm or between properties, helping to make short work of sheep handling jobs.
Set up or take down is easily achieved in 15 minutes. This is done by simply reversing up to the yard or holding pen, removing the transport wheels and then getting on with the job at hand.
It has a reversible clamp frame to suit left or right handed users. Once the sheep are clamped, the operator is hands free to go about the work.
The dagging race is available left or right handed, and has two anti-backing wings to increase stock flow.
Ideal for drafting, weighing, dagging, mouthing, tagging and inoculations, the units can handle ewes and lambs at the same time without any adjustment.
With the addition of weighing equipment the unit becomes indispensible for monitoring lamb weights then drafting off finished animals.
Southland farmer Nigel King has used a Stock Worker for 12 months and says he is very impressed.
“It’s easy to use, stress free for ewes and lambs and importantly people,” he explains.
“You name it, we’ve done it. Weighing, mouthing, uddering, drenching, ear tagging and even a cheeky wee crutching at the same time.”
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Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
Meat processors are hopeful that the additional 15% tariff on lamb exports to the US will also come off.
Fears of a serious early drought in Hawke’s Bay have been allayed – for the moment at least.