Sheep handling system and eid

[Valtra Man]

Which of the more common makes of sheep handling equipment would offer the best longevity and ease of use?

Looking for a new fixed handling system to incorporate into our existing systems. Been looking at IAE, Bateman and Ritchie. Leaning towards Ritchie but open to ideas. Ideally the more sheeted hurdles and small gates the better so they can be utilised in a lambing shed but I need something that will last. Cost not the most important factor more so quality.

Also looking for an eid reader with a stock management program. Leaning towards border but with shearwell being so well known I'm still undecided as I haven't really got a clue about them.

Read a few threads on both handling systems and eid but most seem to be out dated.

Anyone care to share good or bad experiences?

 

[Gator]

I have a Bateman but Mainly use a Prattley now, use shearwell stock reader. Works well for what I need and use it for. Every farm is different you just need to find the one that works for you.


Good luck

 

[exmoor dave]

Which of the more common makes of sheep handling equipment would offer the best longevity and ease of use?

Looking for a new fixed handling system to incorporate into our existing systems. Been looking at IAE, Bateman and Ritchie. Leaning towards Ritchie but open to ideas. Ideally the more sheeted hurdles and small gates the better so they can be utilised in a lambing shed but I need something that will last. Cost not the most important factor more so quality.

Also looking for an eid reader with a stock management program. Leaning towards border but with shearwell being so well known I'm still undecided as I haven't really got a clue about them.

Read a few threads on both handling systems and eid but most seem to be out dated.

Anyone care to share good or bad experiences?

IMO unless border has a phone app as well to compliment the stock recorder, then I'd say shearwell are abit ahead- the phone app is genuinely useful!

Most folk have always got a phone on them, most don't carry the stock recorder everywhere.
Phone app is actually a little more user friendly than the stock recorder for recording most things &esp for writing comments

(Stock recorder has ABC keypad rather than QWERTY...... it will drive you nuts writing comments of any length on the stock recorder )

 

[Lazy Eric]

Have a look at Glendale Engineering, very well made gear. We have a set up made by them. Also have a Bateman one too. Quite a bit lighter but ok. Recently had some IAE gear, not impressed, very light and flimsy.

 

[neilo]

You can get a free demo disc from Shearwell or Border, so you can have a play and see which you like most. Both will work with a Psion handheld, which is the dog's doodahs as far as EID/data loggers go.
Personally, if I was starting from scratch now, I'd probably opt for the Border program, but not enough of a difference to change from my established Shearwell system.
I've not used the mobile app from Shearwell, so can't comment on that. I struggle to type much on a small phone screen with my stubby fingers though.

As to handling stuff, I've always thought the Bateman stuff was built stronger than IAE, who seem to rely on the galvanising to hold it together sometimes. If I could find a load of ancient Poldenvale stuff, I'd have that in preference to any newer stuff. I've not seen any Glendale stuff in person, but it certainly looks well built and would be at least worth considering.

 

[tepapa]

In reply to @exmoor dave , no border software don't have a phone app an no plans in pipeline either BUT they are working on having the data stored on their server which would mean it could be logged into from any computer and therefore potentially a phone or tablet but not designed for this.
Although a phone app sounds good I would still choose border software. From what I hear Shearwell lack in the ability to fully utilise all the data and border is ahead in being able to analyse the data.

As far as permanent handling systems I wouldn't buy any currently on the market, in the UK. The designs are awful IMO for good animal flow. If someone was to make a ozzy proway style I would be more inclined to buy one. I would rather have a mobile system but even then it would need modifying.

 

[Andy84]

TBH I have IAE sheeted gates etc to make up my fixed system in the shed and i can't fault it. It seems strong and heavy enough built and have never had any of it break or fail.

 

[Andy84]

TBH I have IAE sheeted gates etc to make up my fixed system in the shed and i can't fault it. It seems strong and heavy enough built and have never had any of it break or fail.

 

[Valtra Man]

Thank you all for the replies, very helpful and good points to consider.

In the one farm we currently run a poldenvale which has been adapted and added to, to fit a combi clamp. Bought some Ritchie stuff which is ok but not exactly heavy duty. The poldenvale zinc sheets give up the ghost here so I replaced them with tanalised timber boards which will hopefully last another 30 yrs.

The problem I have is as I've now got three way parters, electric scales etc I'd like to modify the system to be more user friendly instead of running certain bunches through numerous times. Whilst I've got a few ideas I could really do with someone telling me "this would work better" so once I've decided on make I'll get a rep out to see what opinions they have.

As I'm in Wales Welsh members will know about the 40% grant so whilst I don't really want to rip out everything of the current set up I need to buy a complete system to qualify for the grant which would/should really enhance the way we handle sheep. A lot of the current system will be used in another farm so I need to get the new set up right and hopefully not have any regrets.

Sounds like Glendale is another definitely worth checking out so thank you for that.


As for the end readers thats a good point about the phone and shearwell. I currently write stuff on the phone like sheep numbers for penicillin etc so the app should make that much easier.
I watched a couple of videos on border software and it looked easy enough to use so I was leaning to that. The research continues...

 

[TGM]

Hi Valtra Man, you might also want to look at Selectsheepware www.tgmsoftware.com free demo, links to different readers with one click in the software - Psion/Motorola and Agrident sticks. Agrident sticks will record almost as much as a Psion. internal database on the Agrident AWR300 is not as comprehensive as the Psion, but is designed to tell you what you need to know when in the yard, - last 6 weights, last 3 medicines , last birth details, and more. Psion shows all medicines, all weights for an animal - you get almost 2 AWR300 sticks for the price of one new Psion (no longer branded psion, but now branded Motorola or Zebra, or in the case of Shearwell, simply Stock Recorder). Agrident sticks link to various weigh scales via Bleutooth - very simple to setup to link to scales.