Buffalo Steel Products expand lambing range
Brothers Mark and John O’Connor from Wicklow-based company Buffalo Steel Products continue to grow their business and have added a number of new products for lambing.
The company report they now have their hurdles included on the Department of Agriculture’s approved listed. Five-foot, seven-rail hot-dipped galvanised hurdles with a drop-down pin cost €24.40 plus VAT, while four-foot hurdles cost €21.95 plus VAT.
This has occurred since the Irish Farmers Journal carried out a demonstration on sheep penning at Sheep 2015 in Teagasc, Athenry, the information of which is described below.
The company were featured in last year’s new-product lambing feature with a double-sided hay/silage basket and have since added heavy duty five-litre feed buckets and holders.
These cost €4.87 plus VAT, and John says the company have a next-day delivery service for anywhere in Ireland.
The final new product is a mobile adoption head-gate, which can be transferred from pen to pen and costs €81.30 plus VAT.
See buffalosteelproducts.com for more information or contact Mark on 087-359-3068 or John on 087-219-0945.
Healthy and safe movement of ewes and lambs
Moving ewes and young lambs from group pens to lambing pens or around the yard can be straightforward, but equally can cause headaches if ewes fail to follow lambs or multiple lambs are being moved and gates, doors, etc, need to be opened and closed.
There are also health and safety concerns to be taken into account. A lowland ewe can weigh between 60kg and 85kg, even after lambing. Because of this, lifting and/or moving ewes can be a difficult job, without considering the overactive ewe running circles around you when following her lambs.
The main thing should be to avoid injury at all costs, both to you and to the ewe.
There are numerous devices coming onto the market for moving ewes and lambs around the yard, or to grazing that will save on lifting and handling.
Picture 2 shows a crate by Maher Engineering, Ridge Road, Birr, Co Offaly, which was spotted on a recent farm walk. Crates such as this one not only ease the handling of ewes but also have an added safety feature for lambs.
The crate pictured has a second compartment in front of the ewe for the lambs. This helps to keep the lambs safe from injury during transport, while at the same time keeping them in full view and contact with the ewe which helps to ease stress caused by separating the ewe and her lamb(s).
The crate shown has a number of ad-ons, including aluminium. Maher engineering say they can also make lower-cost alternatives and can tailor aspects to suit a farmer’s need. Their contact is 087-275-0170.
Agrihealth bringing new harnesses to Irish market
Agrihealth have introduced two new harnesses to the Irish market from the same manufacturer, Rurtec, who developed the ram harness, Matingmark.
The first harness, called the Bearin prolapse harness, is aimed at dealing with vaginal prolapse. It is described by the company as combining an old-style rope design with modern straps, which they say will aid ewe comfort and snap-lock buckles for easy fitting.
Agrihealth says the harness will not hinder lambing or bowel movement when fitted correctly but will exert pressure on key areas to reduce straining and reduce pain.
This works on the premise of the neck strap tightening if an animal’s head drops. The recommended retail price of the harness is €24.
The second harness is called the Adopta restraint harness, which Agrihealth says can be used to aid mothering.
The company says: “The new harness allows ewes to be held via the back strap and neck strap to a fence or rail. When the ewe begins to accept the lamb, the neck strap can be released from the fence or rail to allow nuzzling and eating.
“It is a great option for those who do not have a race, adoption pen or any other means of restraining ewes.”
The Adopta harness has a recommended retail price of €18.
Further information and pictures of the harnesses on ewes can be obtained at www.agrihealth.ie or by emailing info@agrihealth.ie or calling 047-71800.
IFJ sheep penning demonstration
The Irish Farmers Journal held a sheep penning demonstration last year at Sheep 2015, at Teagasc, Mellows Campus Athenry, Co Galway.
The demonstration had a number of aims, including highlighting the broad range of equipment on the Irish market and gave details of manufacturers supplying direct to farmers or through the trade.
The demonstration also aimed to highlight information about grant aid for sheep handling equipment, and as such concentrated on sheep hurdles that were on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Accepted Mobile Handling facilities list (S136A).
Not a difinitive list
This is not a definitive list of sheep handling manufacturers, with some on the Department’s list not in a position to have their equipment exhibited, while there is a wide range of traders that have not applied for approval.
The demonstration collected a range of information on the hurdles including aspects such as weight, height, number of bars, finish and a guideline price, along with contact details and other information deemed relevant.
The document detailing all this information can be viewed at farmersjournal.ie/sheep-184167.
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