What have been the important thing developments in cattle crush design and options over the previous decade?
A number of specialists shared their opinions with Beef Central at FarmFest on Tuesday, with labour effectivity, security, animal welfare, knowledge assortment and time-saving enhancements all rating excessive on the checklist.
“Hydraulics and air” was the fast response from Gary Stark, a veteran cattle crush producer from Warwick Cattle Crush.
“It has taken plenty of the exhausting work out,” he mentioned.
“Within the final three years I’ve hardly bought a guide crush.”
Mr Stark mentioned he used to promote 40 guide crushes a month, however that’s now again to about 10, with hydraulic-powered crushes dominating demand as an alternative.
“It’s all about labour, security and time. As a substitute of 4 or 5 individuals, two individuals can do the identical quantity of cattle in half the time.”
He additionally offered an indication of the sunshine contact required to deal with cattle and calves with hydraulically powered models, on this case a Warwick Cattle Crush calf cradle – see video:
Security has been one other main space of evolution.
Barb Wilkinson from Brazzen Rural Merchandise mentioned with many purchasers having their kids working them, there was a rise in demand for personnel races to separate individuals from cattle, and curved pressure yards with ratchet locks to forestall gates being slammed again on handlers.
Barb Wilkinson, Brazzen Rural Merchandise, Kilcoy: “Security is the large one, If I had my approach, everybody would have a pressure yard” (left, and shut up of ratchet lock proper)”.
One other variation of security enhancing and stress decreasing improvements has been the emergence of recent era sturdy rubber flooring which is able to dealing with heavy visitors, which has offered improved cleanliness, elevated consolation for cattle and improved security for each cattle and employees.
John Cullen from Dalby Rural Provides mentioned rubber flooring had been a “game-changer” in livestock dealing with lately.
“The cattle really feel extra secure and calm, the rubber flooring has made an enormous distinction,” he mentioned.
A number of producers Beef Central spoke with additionally supply cell or moveable cattle crushes, in response to demand from producers looking for the pliability to deal with cattle in a number of areas relatively than at one fastened website.
Automation and knowledge assortment go hand-in-hand
Automation and knowledge assortment working in synergy with crushes has been one other key development.
A number of producers at FarmFest supply machines which can be linked on to livestock administration software program and sensors to function gates and head bales.
Te Pari’s Taurus crush was absolutely automated, which means an operator might work the crush with out laying a hand on a button or a lever – as an alternative pre-set instructions have been put into livestock administration software program.
The corporate’s Duane Raddel instructed Beef Central that the crush had taken off in feedlots and on giant backgrounding operations, the place they have been continually making an attempt to gather knowledge and have been bigger corporations that had managers and employees to take care of.
Alongside security and knowledge assortment, decreasing reliance on labour was one other profit crush producers have been eager to push.
Cipex’s 2000 auto used buttons to regulate all gates in entrance of the animal going via the crush and sensors to close gates behind them.
Tamworth-based product specialist Lachie Knight mentioned decreasing reliance on labour was the primary profit.
“You’d have a look at a setup like this and suppose it’s for a giant operation, however it’s actually designed for an operation eager to lower its reliance on labour,” he mentioned.
“You actually solely have room for 2 individuals in there, most certainly the producer and the vet, anymore and it will get crowded.”
Firms appeared to have turnaround instances underneath management
The provision of cattle crushes and different dealing with tools has been a difficulty up to now decade, notably over the COVID 19 interval the place entry to uncooked supplies and different restrictions have been inflicting points.
Most yard producers who Beef Central requested about turnaround instances mentioned it could take one to 2 months get a crush into the yards if ordered from FarmFest.
Most mentioned that they had their very own manufacturing and metal provide was not a difficulty.
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