iae Rotex

[Pluto]

Has anybody got any experience of the iae Rotex handling system ? Thinking about buying one, but wanted to hear a few comments before parting with any dosh.

 

[Zaphod]

Me too am thinking of getting one!

 

[Danllan]

Has anybody got any experience of the iae Rotex handling system ? Thinking about buying one, but wanted to hear a few comments before parting with any dosh.

We have been thinking of one of these for using for a few years before our new yard is built with a permanent race and then for use at some land we've got a few miles away. Had a look at a demonstration set-up, it seems well made and is well designed.

Then, being tight, we decided to have a go at making our own version. We had a load of IAE hurdles already and cable-tied 6mm stokbord to them; we use 8' ones for the race and a few 7' ones + 5/ gates for the turning area / funnel and the forcing gate. The two improvements I will make are to put stokbord on the 5' gates as well and to slip a rounded 'foot' into the bottom of the inside leg of the 'forcing' hurdle, just to make it a bit smoother.

It isn't as 'pretty' as the Rotex yet works well but, that written, it cost less than 25% of the Rotex's price.

Let me know if you want to see it and I'll try to take a couple of pics anon between the raindrops.

 

[Bullring]

It's the same as the Bateman superior, although if I had a choice I'd have a ritchie stockcube, it's built heavier and won't be pushed around like the Rotex.

 

[beardface]

We’ve got one, got it through a HLS grant. Works ok, they can bunch a bit near the exit race. I think the Bateman one can come with a curved hurdle to reduce this problem which I think we might look at doing to the rotex in future. It’s built well and should be, given the weight, defo need 2 people to set up as you wouldn’t want to end up under any of the curve panels on your own .

 

[S J H]

Dad's got one, I'm not very impressed, but I wasn't when he bought it, so probably not very fair. I think for a fixed unit it's an expensive way of doing it, and I can't see the you wanting to put up and take it down in the field. I'd have thought you could make a mobile budbox cheaper and it be quicker.

 

[Pluto]

Thanks for the comments chaps. Danllan, take your point, but I would have to buy more hurdles and stokboard which means I just as well go the whole hog. Have managed to beat them down a bit on price, but I'm in no hurry. Like the look of the Ritchie cube but the drawback is the price.

 

[Happy]

Thanks for the comments chaps. Danllan, take your point, but I would have to buy more hurdles and stokboard which means I just as well go the whole hog. Have managed to beat them down a bit on price, but I'm in no hurry. Like the look of the Ritchie cube but the drawback is the price.

What's roughly the on farm price for Ritchie stock cube these days?

 

[Bullring]

What's roughly the on farm price for Ritchie stock cube these days?

Probably between £3500-4000

 

[spitfire]

anybody have any prices to buy a full forcing circle similar to batemans but stronger

 

[Northeastfarmer]

anybody have any prices to buy a full forcing circle similar to batemans but stronger

I’ve bought a iae one, pretty pleased with the quality

 

[spitfire]

I’ve bought a iae one, pretty pleased with the quality

what did you go for full or half circle

 

[Northeastfarmer]

what did you go for full or half circle

Half circle with curved race, but have made all the pens and gates ourselves

 

[spitfire]

Half circle with curved race, but have made all the pens and gates ourselves

takes some doing been looking at it for years ,ideally would like to narrow it down for smaller stock and be able to open race if something goes down

 

[Northeastfarmer]

takes some doing been looking at it for years ,ideally would like to narrow it down for smaller stock and be able to open race if something goes down

There’s a gate so far down the race to open in case a beast goes down

 

[spitfire]

There’s a gate so far down the race to open in case a beast goes down

I know its amazing what situations they get into ,you can build it as strong as you like but it makes you cry if have to do something drastic to get an animal out

 

[Pluto]

The more I look into this the more I like the Ritchie stockcube. If an animal goes down you can pull the gate back and there are no awkward areas for an animal to get stuck. Also you can pick the whole thing up with forks without having to do too much dismantling.
But it does annoy me in all the videos of handling systems you never see animals facing the wrong way around, they always walk dutifully the right way, and straight through! Our sucklers have a habit of planting their feet on the ground, usually with a leg against the gate so you can't move it!
However, going back to the cube, although it's expensive for a few bits of metal put together, I had a brainwave this afternoon, I think there might be grants available for this sort of thing, and have got a phone number to call in the morning.

 

[Henarar]

http://www.mepengineering.co.uk/

 

[Bullring]

I thought there were only grants on fixed handling equipment, I have asked this to Ritchie rep and he said theirs can be bolted down so can be classed as fixed. As for cost price a rotex is 3000 as aposed to 4 for the Ritchie but you can set up the stockcube on your own so saving on an extra man to set up and it's quicker to assemble and move. I do know where there is a brand new one in stock at old price as it's been there for a few years so they may be keen to let it go for around £3500.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I thought there were only grants on fixed handling equipment, I have asked this to Ritchie rep and he said theirs can be bolted down so can be classed as fixed. As for cost price a rotex is 3000 as aposed to 4 for the Ritchie but you can set up the stockcube on your own so saving on an extra man to set up and it's quicker to assemble and move.

I thought the grants were only for mobile equipment?