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"The benefits of steel over timber yards are much longer lifespan, less maintenance and ease of removal anytime," says Watts.
Steel yards and animal handling gear is a must in the 21st century farming, especially for sheep and beef, says an exhibitor looking forward to the inaugural East Coast Farming with Technology Expo at Wairoa in April.
Farmquip sales and marketing manager Brenden Watts says the design improvements to yarding and handling systems have made animal handling faster, more automated and much safer.
"The benefits of steel over timber yards are much longer lifespan, less maintenance and ease of removal anytime, should the farmer sell and want to take them away. Designs are also modified to suit individual farm requirements."
The East Coast Farming with Technology Expo, on April 13-14 at the Wairoa A&P Society showgrounds, will focus on new ideas for farming in that region. Exhibitors will get to demonstrate and promote their products and services.
Te Pari Products Ltd, another exhibitor of steel yarding, agrees about these products. Marketing director Jeremy Blampied says it's 'goodbye' to the timber that predominated for so long. Good yard design must minimise stress on animals and save farmers time, worry and money.
"Safety is also a major consideration with the new health and safety laws coming into effect in April 2016: one significant change is the specific duty placed on those holding governance or senior management roles to assume due diligence duty," Blampied says.
"This means employers and directors need to have safe yard systems. Over 15,000 people are injured each year in New Zealand in cattle handling incidents – twice the population of Wairoa district."
Watts says Farmquip will have a variety of products on show and trained, qualified staff there to answer questions and offer advice, specific to site visitors' needs.
"Look out for our HDale sheep handling units, Farmquip cattle crush and yards and our new alloy stock crates for ATV/4x4 vehicles. Farmquip is an East Coast manufacturing business; we've dealt with local customers for many years and we value their support."
Blampied also looks forward to connecting with existing and potential customers. Its sheep and cattle handling equipment on display will include its Te Pari Revolution drench gun.
Precision and automation are the essentials in the future of yarding systems, Watts says. "More automation makes these systems easier to use by fewer staff and it's safer for workers.
"Precision farming is the future: we don't have any more land so we have to get more efficient and productive with what we have," Blampied adds.
"In cropping, extensive GPS and field data is recorded and used as a management tool; we will see more recording and data-driven decision making in sheep and beef farming."
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