Sheep handling systems

[General-Lee]

Just a quick question for all you combi clampers how easy is it to drench and vaccinate young lambs of say 8-12 weeks old are the sides a bit high for it or is it not too bad?

I did our end of nov/dec ewe lambs this week so older but were a few smaller ones which you've got to pull their heads up but can't see that being any different then doing them in a race or a pen. I just clamp them later so their heads were poking out further.

 

[NZDan]

What's people's thoughts on the 33" race on the Rappa I'm thinking it's to wide and I would be better swapping them for the 18" while it's new?

Got any pics?

 

[romneymarsh]

Just a quick question for all you combi clampers how easy is it to drench and vaccinate young lambs of say 8-12 weeks old are the sides a bit high for it or is it not too bad?

Drench younger lambs through wide race mixed with ewes. If you have help you might get ewes and lambs to run through combi but doubt that they will if your singled handed. Lambs don't need much for them to jump or turn

 

[scholland]

Drench younger lambs through wide race mixed with ewes. If you have help you might get ewes and lambs to run through combi but doubt that they will if your singled handed. Lambs don't need much for them to jump or turn

Exactly, as long as the lambs make it to the clamp you can easy drench them but getting then there can be tricky. The race is well sized, don't think anything over 6 months has turned in it but young lambs certainly can which really shows the job down. I did wonder about making a race narrower but haven't figured how to do it yet and don't really want more stuff to cart around!

 

[romneymarsh]

Exactly, as long as the lambs make it to the clamp you can easy drench them but getting then there can be tricky. The race is well sized, don't think anything over 6 months has turned in it but young lambs certainly can which really shows the job down. I did wonder about making a race narrower but haven't figured how to do it yet and don't really want more stuff to cart around!

I have a piece of galvanised profile panel about100mm thick which I bolt on to side of lead up race to make narrower for lambs but it's a pain having to take it out for ewes . Really only use it for double tagging and vaccinating ewe lambs although this year less to double tag as done at lambing time. I find weighing lambs easier through the Prattley weigh scale

 

[hillman]

I find weighing lambs easier through the Prattley weigh scale

How do you find them ? Do you have it in a fixed location or move? What weight reader do u have on it ?

 

[romneymarsh]

I find weighing lambs easier through the Prattley weigh scale

How do you find them ? Do you have it in a fixed location or move? What weight reader do u have on it ?

I'll take a photo.

 

[romneymarsh]

I'll take a photo.

Works for me . Obviously can move it but always set up same . Run ewes off funnel pen from side gate and drench lambs in treatment race beyond. May not be the whole answer .

 

[romneymarsh]

Xr3000 Bluetooth so links to psion not the best way of doing it apparently but works.

 

[Tim G]

Our new 'system' was delivered yesterday.

 

[exmoor dave]

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Works for me . Obviously can move it but always set up same . Run ewes off funnel pen from side gate and drench lambs in treatment race beyond. May not be the whole answer .

@romneymarsh would you record weight gain and use/compare the data against where they had been grazing etc?

 

[romneymarsh]

@romneymarsh would you record weight gain and use/compare the data against where they had been grazing etc?

I could I suppose but don't . What use would data be ? Every year is different due to rainfall but I suppose with a good piece of software( Farmfax if it works in N hemp? ) and good historical data you could feed budget and predict . My options for pasture improvement based on collected data are limited because of SSSI and HLS.

 

[neilo]

I could I suppose but don't . What use would data be ? Every year is different due to rainfall but I suppose with a good piece of software( Farmfax if it works in N hemp? ) and good historical data you could feed budget and predict . My options for pasture improvement based on collected data are limited because of SSSI and HLS.

I seem to remember @RobP mentioning recording weight gains in certain fields/crops a couple of years ago, to get an idea of which were the best grazing crops for lambs. I thought that was a useful idea as an independent measure without seed salesman's spin. Be interesting to see the results some time Rob.

 

[hillman]

We are about to order a new Rappa handling yard,will have a really excellent condition Prattley standard yard for sale then PM me for more details!

Might be interested dropped u a pm , thanks John

 

[Sw beef farmer]

Hi there, new to the forum although have been following some threads for a while this is my first post. Bought a Combi Clamp last year which I think is great. I am keen to make it more mobile as do some others in this thread and was wondering how people were planning to go about doing it? I was thinking about making a larger sub frame under existing loadbar frame, maybe long enough to keep 3 way shedder in place and wide enough to put ramp at one side for transport with space at other side for some lightweight rappa, scotpen hurdles. I can't decide if I should make a sledge type trailer, like the shearing pens, or axle and draw bar arrangement as found on mobile yards. Would be great to hear other peoples ideas on what they were meaning to do, or thoughts on above.
Thanks in anticipation.

 

[Johnny400]

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Works for me . Obviously can move it but always set up same . Run ewes off funnel pen from side gate and drench lambs in treatment race beyond. May not be the whole answer .

does your sheeted gate for the race leading to the weigh crate have a shedding gate? Did you modify that yourself or get it from prattley?

 

[scholland]

Hi there, new to the forum although have been following some threads for a while this is my first post. Bought a Combi Clamp last year which I think is great. I am keen to make it more mobile as do some others in this thread and was wondering how people were planning to go about doing it? I was thinking about making a larger sub frame under existing loadbar frame, maybe long enough to keep 3 way shedder in place and wide enough to put ramp at one side for transport with space at other side for some lightweight rappa, scotpen hurdles. I can't decide if I should make a sledge type trailer, like the shearing pens, or axle and draw bar arrangement as found on mobile yards. Would be great to hear other peoples ideas on what they were meaning to do, or thoughts on above.
Thanks in anticipation.

http://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/mobile-combi-clamp.10723/

That's what I did. No real complaints with it, move it around 4 places not much bother.

 

[JP1]

Hi there, new to the forum although have been following some threads for a while this is my first post. Bought a Combi Clamp last year which I think is great. I am keen to make it more mobile as do some others in this thread and was wondering how people were planning to go about doing it? I was thinking about making a larger sub frame under existing loadbar frame, maybe long enough to keep 3 way shedder in place and wide enough to put ramp at one side for transport with space at other side for some lightweight rappa, scotpen hurdles. I can't decide if I should make a sledge type trailer, like the shearing pens, or axle and draw bar arrangement as found on mobile yards. Would be great to hear other peoples ideas on what they were meaning to do, or thoughts on above.
Thanks in anticipation.

Do you not need Type Approval now if you're intending to tow with a road vehicle at road speeds as opposed to a tractor?

 

[gadgewalker]

Hi all,

Looking into rappa/prattley etc for around 100 ewes just now will be expanding. Had our eye on a 2nd hand rappa but it was sold the day before the business loan came through so now looking for something else. Need something as we are on rented ground and anything we take on will be dotted about and working full time means less time fannying about with setting up and getting sheep in is always helpful.

If anyone knows of any 2nd hand going or has any thoughts that would be great.

In the Lothians but no problem travelling to pick up. All over the place at the minute

Cheers

 

[neilo]

Have you tried Marcus Bullock at Livestock Management Systems?
http://www.livestockmanagementsystems.co.uk/

Your money, but can you really justify a mobile yard for 100 ewes? What about getting something cheaper/smaller then, if/when you do expand, look at a mobile yard then?

I should add that I helped someone using their ancient secondhand Prattley last winter, with a good half of the lugs broken off the hurdles and held together with bale twine, and I wonder WHY?