Mobile sheep handling systems

beefandsleep

Member
Location
Staffordshire
I agree re hurdle height on the rappa, a neighbour has a prattley which is essentially the same, he solved the problem by buying a few alpaca hurdles to make the drafting pen with so drafted lambs don’t get mixed. Being tight I didn’t do this but solve the problem of the first couple of lambs trying to rejoin their mates by making the drafting pen very small so they can’t get a run up and expanding it as it fills up, once there’s a few in they settle down.
 

Henery

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South shropshire
Just bought a second hand double race Prattley from a Welsh man who was blessed with grant money before us.
Used it a few times and very pleased with it, easy enough to use without double race for simple jobs but the double makes bigger jobs really go. I agree hurdles are only just high enough, even for my pretty dopey Romneys. If they were any higher the pretty dopey short arsed operative would have major trouble down in trouser town .
Great bit of kit, v pleased !
 

AJR75

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Somerset
Prattley here for the last 4 years. Everyone told me I was mad buying it with the numbers I keep but second to the mutts it’s proved invaluable to me. I viewed it as an investment that comes with very little depreciation cost so is effectively safe money. I sold it earlier this year for the same as I paid for it after getting a good deal on some prattley race panels/hurdles and gates and made up the skid unit in the workshop.
 

Ollieb

New Member
Rappa here,
didn’t think I could really justify buying one but wouldn’t be without it now, easy to set up and strong. Mark Grant at rappa could not have been more helpful. From ordering to being delivered took only 3 weeks better than 4 months prattley told me. And like it’s been said before it British made.
 

Al R

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Wales
Don't need one now ---sheep are well trained and never need treating for anything :p

Or their being handled that much for different treatments and testing that they stay still and you can walk up to them all?
Rappa next as their only a few mile from you up the 303?
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Hi
We are wanting to invest in a mobile sheep handling system. Does anyone have any recommendations or even ones to stay away from? What are the pros and cons? What about the ones where they run up the trailer and that becomes the race?
Thanks!

How many sheep, and what type/size are they? Are you looking to use i5 for everything, and everywhere?

I have had a RAPPA since they first came out, and consider it better built than the Prattley I had for 19 years previously. However, I wouldn’t think there’s a lot to choose between the RAPPA, Prattley or Scotpen tbh. The Alligator is a cheaper yard, but far lighter/weaker built, but may be enough for your needs? (I know my miserable Charollais ewes would kill one quickly though). If you’re happy to take a bit longer, and put a bit more work 8n, setting up, then a GSF steel one could be very good value from the looks of them.(y)

Personally, how I utilise a mobile yard here now, i’d Probably plump for a GSF if I was looking today, but every farm and situation is different. When the first bought the Prattley, we were running grasskeep here, there and everywhere:banghead: and it was a revelation.
 

exmoor dave

Member
Location
exmoor, uk
Don't need one now ---sheep are well trained and never need treating for anything :p

How many more generations before mine get to that level? :LOL:


Admittedly I like the idea of a nice alloy mobile system under the grant but in all honesty just can't see the work for one, nearly all the away ground either has pens or is only used for dry ewes
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
He is the first shepherd to ever actually make enough money to take early retirement :eek:

In line with all the other ‘clued up’ businessmen, he’s moving his business empire abroad ahead of Brexit....
84A2D634-CBCE-4BB0-AB31-887A7E85B57A.jpeg
 

Bury the Trash

Member
Mixed Farmer
Op,If you work with a race normally then fair enough.

........but if you use 'small treatment pen' to do what you do to them why not get a shearing trailer like a Pughe or a mudge ...use common or garden hurdles or some allys to catch/funnel ... load the hurdles into the trailer to transport. you can even get a race panel/draft gate for the mudgee one

Bonus for this would be that yer shearer would only need to bring and hangup hes motor etc. and your sheep would be so used to the trailer.
just sayin..
 
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Andy84

Member
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.

My mate has a scotpen and the only fault I found with it is it catches the wind like hell on a blowy day and you try and pull the gates round! I love my Rappa and can't see past it wasn't impressed with the IAE one I looked at I think my welding is better than that!
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
If you intend on towing this mobile system behind a car on the road, be aware that most Prattley are not road legal. Rappa are and have type approval from DVSA .
 

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