Mobile sheep handling systems
- Thread starter lizzieS
- Start date
- Location
- Acton Scott, South Shropshire
We bought a JSF Romney Ranger system about 2 years ago - came with weigh bars and recorder. Has served us very well, was good value for money, works well and we like it but was always intended to be a first step on the ladder and to be replaced by a Prattley or similar at a later stage as the flock grew. With the small farm grant now open we will probably take the opportunity to upgrade. .
Got a gsf Romney ranger here and have used prattleys as well. Get on very well with the gsf. Takes a bit longer to put up and take down mainly because of the weight but it’s strong and the ewes and lambs run through it well. And at about 1/3 the price of an alaminium race great value for money.
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Google Fowrass Fabrications. Don't have a website, but are on Facebook and have races listed on eBay. They make 2 or 3 different types, so something to suit everyone. Well made and easy to use.
Vicki_Ann
Member
We have a Prattley and it's brilliant. We have put some fairly wild yearling ewes through it and it stood up to them well. Lots of options for making pens and very quick and easy to set up and pack away.
A friend has an Alligator which we borrowed before getting the Prattley and had to buy a few new hurdles for it as our wild sheep ploughed straight through some it and bent the hurdles badly. It didn't seem to stand up as well as our Prattley does.
Have also heard good things about the Rappa, we were torn between Rappa and Prattley, but at RWS the Rappa man made us feel like we were an inconvenience to him asking questions and didn't seem to care whether we bought one or not, whereas the Prattley man was keen to answer all of our questions and show us around the Prattley.
A friend has an Alligator which we borrowed before getting the Prattley and had to buy a few new hurdles for it as our wild sheep ploughed straight through some it and bent the hurdles badly. It didn't seem to stand up as well as our Prattley does.
Have also heard good things about the Rappa, we were torn between Rappa and Prattley, but at RWS the Rappa man made us feel like we were an inconvenience to him asking questions and didn't seem to care whether we bought one or not, whereas the Prattley man was keen to answer all of our questions and show us around the Prattley.
beefandsleep
Member
- Location
- Staffordshire
Very pleased with the rappa I have, drafting lambs is a doddle, very well built, really easy to put up and take down I wouldn’t be without it.
- Location
- Easter ross
Scotpen. Probably the best built/strongest/tallest imo.Not as light as the others for pushing round but no hassle. If you go for the big yard you can draft from behind which is quite smart as you aren’t hindering them stood in front iyswim. Unfortunately I could only justify the smaller yard
sticky
Member
- Location
- Near Stratford upon Avon
know someone who has had a scotpen 12 months now and he said the prattleys are worth the extra money. He said that on a sunny day the reflection off the panels would stop the sheep running and made the job hard work.
- Location
- Easter ross
More operator setup than anything then. Can’t say I’ve had an issue getting them to run. Only issue I have is remembering to setup a particular way as there isn’t a spring on the back gate like the rappa so if on undulating ground it can shut itself.
Rappa here.
Well made and British too.
Well made and British too.
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
sticky
Member
- Location
- Near Stratford upon Avon
I nearly replied but didn't want to offend the northerly challenged amongst us.
blacksheepcontracting
Member
- Location
- Ceredigion, Wales
The rappa is the one to go for. More or less identical to the prattley but British. For me though it’s too expensive to buy without grants but thanks to the farm business grant I have one
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
Whereas I have the right to self deprecation....
sticky
Member
- Location
- Near Stratford upon Avon
Absolutely.
I've got /had/used a Scotpen, Polden Vale, Alligator, Pratley----all very good
Scotpen---Pro -strong, versatile (no worries with sun on hurdles even here in the scorching south)
Con ---heavy at the end of a long day when it comes to packing up
Polden Vale ----great, strong system BUT very heavy
Pratley/Rappa ---Pros ---light, versatile, easy to set up
Cons--- not as strong as Scotpen , sheep jump hurdles easier
But they are all good ---Tim's Top Tip ---get one with a weigh system & EID reader
Scotpen---Pro -strong, versatile (no worries with sun on hurdles even here in the scorching south)
Con ---heavy at the end of a long day when it comes to packing up
Polden Vale ----great, strong system BUT very heavy
Pratley/Rappa ---Pros ---light, versatile, easy to set up
Cons--- not as strong as Scotpen , sheep jump hurdles easier
But they are all good ---Tim's Top Tip ---get one with a weigh system & EID reader
sticky
Member
- Location
- Near Stratford upon Avon
Quite agree that the prattley hurdles aren't tall enough.
Sierra Lama
Member
Have a GSF Romney Ranger, very well built, easy enough to put up and take down it's obviously heavier than any Aluminium counterparts but it's a fraction of the cost.
- Tags
- weighbridge