Ritchey Complete Stock Management Solutions

Complete Stock Management Solutions from TM

EID Livestock Tags and Readers Electronic Weighing Equipment Animal Management Systems

March 2016

Sheep Tags Snapp Tagg ® Combining reliability and technology for sheep farmers.

• • • • • • •

Available in visual and EID, both applied with the same applicator Locks together tightly without pinching In strips of 10 for easy handling Waterproof and shock resistant EID chip Lightweight and easy to apply Outstanding readability Visual available in 8 colours: *

•

**

Applicator Tool - 09028

EID available in 6 colours (Scotland only) *

*Replacements only **Scotland only

RD2000 • • • •

Available in Visual and EID, both applied with the same applicator Unique snag free design, providing excellent retention High quality FDX-B chip moulded into the body of the tag, so the external tag remains unchanged Visual available in 11 colours and can be mixed and matched giving you over 80 possible combinations. *

•

**

EID available in 6 colours (Scotland only) *

*Replacements only **Scotland only

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Applicator Tool - 09021

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Cattle Tags Blue Helix • • •

DEFRA approved Primary and Secondary tags Excellent retention rate Flexible yet durable plastic with a reinforced neck for added strength Full, free rotation Breathable cap to aid healing and help prevent infection Available in 3 sizes

• • •

HELIX Premium Cattle Tag Range

Applicator Tool - 09039

EID • • • • • •

DEFRA approved Secondary tags High quality plastic Excellent retention and read distance Fast, easy application HDX Transponder Also available as management tags

Applicator Tool - 09039

Reusable EID Button • • • • • • •

The same internal technology as the non reusable tag but manufactured to allow multiple use When reusing the tag please ensure the correct male tags are used Spare males - 07731 HDX Transponder Suitable for management use only Diameter: 30mm Lasered with electronic numeric identifier

Applicator Tool - 09039

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Electronic Weighing Why Weigh?

What is EID?

Weighing replaces guess-work with facts, making it a powerful performance measurement tool for farmers.

Electronic Identification (EID) allows you to track individuals through their entire life cycle via an electronic ear tag (or other EID device such as a bolus).

The information provided by Tru-Test weigh scale indicators assists in decision making about feed rations, health treatments and condition scoring.

On its own, weighing is a valuable addition to your operation. However, with the emergence of electronic identification (EID), an opportunity exists to maximise the potential of the data collected.

Many governments have implemented (or are planning to implement) mandatory EID schemes to help protect the industry from the impact of biosecurity threats. From a farmer’s point of view, tagging animals with an electronic (EID) tag can add value by allowing better management of individual performance.

With EID, an animals history can be tracked allowing identification of good and bad performers. Streamlining your herd/flock allows inputs to be assessed and profits maximised.

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What are the benefits of Weighing to your Farming Operation?

Monitor reproductive performance

Avoid Penalties! Ensure livestock are sold at the optimum weight grade

In addition, ensuring optimum mating weights can improve breeding performance. Making sure target calving weights are reached will improve calving outcome.

Closely managing the weight gain of individual animals or groups can help you tailor your feed and treatment inputs to ensure maximum profitability, reduce the risk of penalties and saves you money!

Minimise treatment waste Drench/pour-on dosage can be calculated more accurately based on the requirements of the individual animal. Incorrect dosing is the number one cause of drench resistance amongst livestock, so while minimising treatment waste, you’re also maximising the health of your herd.

Closely monitoring the weight gain of offspring can help make breeding decisions to maximise reproductive performance.

Identify sick or lame animals earlier Regular weighing of individual animals means weight loss and other issues that manifest over time are identified sooner, allowing prevention rather than cure. Early detection helps when managing input costs such as feed, health treatment and culling.

Manage your time spent in the yard Your time is a valuable input in your farming operation. With the use of Tru-Test weigh systems your weigh sessions are completed faster and with less labour.

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Electronic Weighing

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Multi Purpose (MP) Load Bars Tru-Test MP Series load bars are the multi-purpose solution in the range.

• • • • • • •

Versatile, can be used with a temporary or permanent installation Compatible with any weigh scale indicator in the Tru-Test range Corrosion resistant zinc plated, gold passivated housing Rugged and durable load bars Reinforced cables to prevent damage Rubber feet provide extra grip and shock dispersal IP67 rated - Water and dust proof

MP600

MP800

MP1010

(60001)

(60101)

(60201)

Multi-purpose 600 mm load bars 2000 kg capacity

Multi-purpose 800 mm load bars 3000 kg capacity

Multi-purpose 1010 mm load bars 3000 kg capacity

Heavy Duty (HD) Load Bars HD load bars are designed for heavy duty permanent installations where extra durability is required.

• • • • • •

3,000 kg capacity For permanent installation under a crush or crate where extra durability is required Compatible with any weigh scale indicator in the Tru-Test range Corrosion resistant galvanised housing Reinforced cables to prevent damage IP67 rated - Water and dust proof

HD1010

HD800

(60202)

(60102)

Heavy Duty 1010 mm load bars

Heavy Duty 800 mm load bars

In house servicing & repair available, please see page 30 for more details.

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Indicators EziWeigh5 •

• • • • •

Highly visible display - The EziWeigh5i has a large 35 mm display with a super bright white LED backlight to make it viewable in all conditions, from the brightest daylight conditions to darkness.

Bright red stable light - You can easily identify when you have a stable weight Fine mode - On/off option allows weighing to 0.1/0.2kg accuracy for lower weights Auto power off - The EziWeigh5 automatically turns off after 15 minutes of no activity to save (61513) the battery Superdamp™ III technology Fast charging - Mains charger can charge the battery in 3 hours

EziWeigh7i • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Wireless communication with EID readers up to 100m away, or connect via cable Records information against EID and VID tags Calculates and displays an animal’s daily weight gain since the previous session Record notes for each individual animal or a batch Stores up to 100 weighing sessions and 15,000 records Summary statistics from the current and previous weighing sessions can be recalled in the yard Speeds up drafting by weight, displaying up to 3 directions to custom set ranges Long life battery, up to 20 hrs of run time, charge time 3 hrs, auto power down to save battery life Superdamp™ III technology, with 4 damping modes Auto incrementing and auto prefixing for fast entry of VID Bright red stable light IP67, 100% water and dust proof Android and Apple Data Link Apps

(61515)

In house servicing & repair available, please see page 30 for more details.

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5000 Series The top of the range 5000 series weigh scale indicators enable you to capture a wide range of animal information allowing you to make the right decisions. Use it quickly to identify poor performing animals, optimise breeding programmes and catch animal health issues.

Key features: •

Large 7” display with unique transflective screen technology.

•

Fast, intuitive navigation.

•

Huge amount of data storage.

•

Simple step by step setup.

•

Ability to save favourite setups.

•

Water, shock and dust proof, IP67 rated.

•

Android and Apple data Link apps.

ID5000

XR5000

How many records can I store?

250,000

1 Million

How many weighing sessions can I keep?

250

1,000

How many pieces of information can I keep on each animal?

3 (Fixed)

100 (Custom)

How many tag identifications can I assign to an animal?

3

4

Can I customise the information I record?

No

Yes

Can I view statistics, animal history on screen in the yard?

Yes

Yes

Can I capture weight gain?

Yes

Yes

Can I draft by weight gain or single criteria?

Yes

Yes

Can the indicator control an AutoDrafter?

Yes

Yes

How many ways can I draft?

5

10

In house servicing & repair available, please see page 30 for more details.

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EID Readers XRS Stick Reader

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Reads all HDX and FDX-B tags 20,000 scanned tag memory 50 sessions for grouping/Separating flock Vibrating handle to alert on tag read Loud beeper and 2 super bright LEDs for alerts Duplicate discard option, so it won’t read the same tag twice Large display which shows both EID and Visual number Tag Buckets can be uploaded onto the stick Bluetooth® for wireless connectivity up to 100m Auto find Bluetooth® pairing and connection - retains a list of 10 previously paired Bluetooth® devices Customisable alerts for selected animals - meaning you will be notified by the reader when pre-selected animals are read Enter customised data, like health treatments or condition scores, against individual animals (pre-set list of up to 10 options) Compatible with a Mobile Printer (09819) Supplied with Tru-Test EziLink™ enabling export and import of data and alert/custom field set up.

(09817)

ERS Handheld Reader • • • • • • •

Compact, simple and easy to use.

4,000 tag memory.

Fully rechargeable.

8 hours battery life.

Duplicate discard.

Bluetooth® enabled.

Connects with Tru-Test® weigh scale indicator and a PC.

(09790)

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XRP2 Panel Reader • • •

• • • • • • •

Reads all HDX and FDX-B tags Option to record EID tag numbers or send to your weigh head Wireless connectivity with Bluetooth enabled Tru-Test Indicator or smartphone using Bluetooth technology Easily download recorded information using your Android smartphone or PC Plug and play setup, with unique auto tuning function Antenna options to suit your set up Rugged design for the tough agricultural environment Read range up to 1m Daylight viewable screen Powered by mains or a 12V power supply

Sheep (09794) Cattle (09793)

Mobile printer with Bluetooth • • • • •

Fully portable and compatible with the XRS Stick Reader Bluetooth for wireless communication Magnetic base Rechargeable Easy to load paper roll

(09819)

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Animal Handling Systems Mobile Sheep Yards Basic Mobile Yard Includes: • Mobile unit with 3-way drafting gate, winch, drawbar, gate support arms, straps and 13” wheels • Single lane, two-section handling race • 7’ x 36” alloy gate x 10 • Diamond gate x 1 • 8’ x 33” Uniboard Panel x 2 • Drop in gate x 2 • Guillotine Gate • Yard holding capacity approx.

100/120 ewes with lambs • Versatile - for on-the-spot animal treatment • Easily transported, assembled and operated • Utilise natural terrain and sunlight for better stock flow • Maximizes farm management

Options: • 0.9m or 1.0m high gates available • Tool box

Product Code: P10B

Standard 10’ Mobile Yard Includes: • Mobile unit with 3-way drafting, geared winch, strong drawbar, gate support arms, retaining straps and 13” wheels Single lane, 16’ twosection handling race • 7’ x 36” alloy gate x 20 6’ Diamond gate x 1 • Drop in gate x 2 • L post x 4 • 33” Swing back gate • Yard holding capacity approximately 250 ewes with existing fence • Versatile - for on-the-spot animal treatment • Easily transported, quickly assembled and operated • Utilise natural terrain and sunlight for better stock flow • Maximizes farm management

Options: • 0.9m or 1.0m high gates available • Tool box

Product Code: P10 See pages 28-29 for case studies on our Complete Stock Management Solutions

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Animal Handling Systems Mobile Sheep Yards 10’ Mobile Super Yard v2 Includes: • Mobile unit with 3-way drafting, geared winch, strong drawbar, gate support arms, retaining straps and wheels • Single lane, 16’ two-section handling race • 5’ x 36” alloy gate x 40 • Diamond gate x 1 • Drop in gate x 2 • L post x 6 • 33” Swing back gate Yard holding capacity approximately 500 ewes with existing fence 13” wheels for excellent towing ability and ground clearance

Options: • 0.9m or 1.0m high gates available • Tool box

Product Code: P10S

10’ Mobile Yard Layout Option

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Animal Handling Systems Mobile Sheep Yards 12’ Mobile Yard Includes: • Mobile unit with 3-way drafting, geared winch, strong drawbar, gate support arms, retaining straps and wheels • Single lane, 24’ three-section handling race • 6’ x 36” alloy gate x 40 • Diamond gate x 1 • L post x 8 • 33” Swing back gate • Yard holding capacity approximately 750 ewes with existing fence • 13” wheels for excellent towing ability and ground clearance

Options: • 0.9m or 1.0m high gates available • Tool box

Product Code: P12S

14’ Mobile Yard Includes: • Mobile unit with 3-way drafting, geared winch, strong drawbar, gate support arms, retaining straps, wheels and toolbox, electric brakes and mudguards • Double lane, 24’ three-section handling race • 7’ x 36” alloy gate x 52 • Diamond gate x 1 • L post x 10 • 33” Swing back gate • Yard holding capacity approximately 1500 ewes with existing fence • 13” wheels for excellent towing ability and ground clearance

Options: • 0.9m or 1.0m high gates available • Tool box

Product Code: P14

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Animal Handling Systems Mobile Sheep Yards 16’ Mobile Yard Includes: • Mobile unit with drop-in gate, drafting gate, jack, drawbar, gate support arms, retaining straps, wheels, toolbox, hydraulic lift jack operation, electric brakes and mudguards • Double lane, 24’ three section handling race with 2 release gates • 7’ x 36” alloy gate x 60 • Diamond gate x 1 • L post x 12 • 33” Swing back gate

• •

Yard holding capacity approximately 2000 ewes with existing fence 14” wheels for excellent towing ability and ground clearance

Options: • 0.9m or 1.0m high gates available • Tool box

Product Code: P16

3 Point Linkage Sheep Yard This system is intended for use with a tractor, it attaches to the 3 point linkage.

Includes: • 7’ Drafting Race • Tractor Unit • 7’ x 36” Gates x 10 • L Post x 2

• •

The standard yard can hold 150 ewes when utilising an existing structure allowing 2 or 3 way drafting.

Add Drench Race components to suit

Product Code: P3PL

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Animal Handling Systems Mobile Sheep Yards 3 Basic Layouts using a Double Drench Race

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Animal Handling Systems Mobile Sheep Yard Components 3’6” x 36” Alloy Gate c/w pins (PS20000)

5’ x 36” Alloy Gate c/w pins (PS20200) 6’ x 36” Alloy Gate c/w pins (PS20400) 7’ x 36” (Std size) Alloy Gate c/w pins (PS20500)

L Post (PS23700)

Multi way Coupling (PS08100)

2-way Coupling (PS08200)

Drop in gate (PS22400)

(PS22600)

Diamond Gate (PS22200)

Long Pin 670mm (PF21202)

Anti backing Gate

Short Pin 335mm

(PS22700)

(PF21203)

13” Wheel c/w Tyre

8” Wheel Hub Inc. Bearing & Seal

(PSP6607)

(PSP6612)

Stud/Nut for 13” Wheel

Stud/Nut for 8” Wheel

(PSP6617)

Guillotine Gate

39” gates are also available

(PSP6616)

Back Stop (PS18000)

Mudguards for 13” Wheels Pair (PS12200)

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Animal Handling Systems Mobile Sheep Yard Components

Gate Retainer A Frame (PS11400)

Gate Retaining Strap (PSP1301)

Safety Winch Nylon Rope 2.6m inc. Hook (PSP1107)

Safety Winch

Safety Winch Stand

Suspension Chains - Pair

(Rope not included) (PSP1201)

(winch not included) (PS11600)

(Inc spring and hook) (PSP1103)

Weigh Crate Carrier

Prattley Tool Box

Allows you to easily transport the Prattley Manual

This handy Tool Box will fit onto

Weigh Crate on the back of a Prattley Mobile Sheep

the front of your mobile yard to

Yard.

hold your spare pins etc.

(PS02600)

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(PS11700)

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Animal Handling Systems Sheep Conveyer – 3.3m • • • •

Available in stationary or mobile Lowers to operate at ground height Includes 6.5hp Honda Hydraulic Power Pack Variable speed with adjustable width

See it in action, visit our You Tube channel; RitcheyLtd

Specifications: • Total Length: 4.4m • Working Length: 2.3m • Width (at widest point): 1.64m • Foundation Base: 2.7m x 1.0m • Towing Length (mobile): 4.8m • Conveyor Belt: NVT-254 PVC Belt • Diamond black 6.615 x 400mm • Hydraulic Pack 6.5hp Honda Motor With Mobility (PS05200) Without Mobility (PS05250)

Sheep Handler • • • • • •

Fully adjustable to suit any size ewe, lamb or ram Sheep lie without struggling in a safe, secure position Adjustable work height = No bending for the operator Lightweight and easy to move Full access around rear of the animal and feet for inspection Ideal to use in conjunction with Prattley Mobile Yards or Handling race

Manual (PS03100) See it in action, visit our You Tube channel; RitcheyLtd

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Animal Handling Systems Weigh Crates 3-Way Manual Draft Weigh Crate • • • • • •

Enables up to 3-way drafting and weight recording Practical design keeps operator out of sheep’s vision One hand left free to monitor stock Sliding gate moves easily and quietly maximising sheep flow Simple no-tool width adjustment from biggest ram to smallest lamb Flat plated feet for ease of use on varied terrains

Left handed c/w MP600 Loadbars (P3WCL) Right handed - Shown c/w MP600 Loadbars (P3WCR)

Weigh head not included, see page 9

2-Way Electric Drafter The Prattley Two Way Drafter is silently operated by electric motors powered by a 12v battery, and will operate on a fully charged battery for a full day.

The design eliminates having to have left and right handed crates.

The rear gates have vertical rollers which allow the gates to roll around the sheep as they close or allow the following sheep to pull back without getting caught.

DRAFTING OPTIONS

Weigh head not included, see page 9

Full Auto Drafting Mode Indicator is programmed for two way drafting.

Sheep enter weigh crate, back gates automatically shut upon weight on platform of drafter and indicator will then select which gate to open.

Back gate opens automatically again for next sheep.

While in this mode you can override the drafter at any time with the long range remote.

Auto Drafting By Remote Indicator is programmed for two way drafting.

Open back gate with remote, shut back gate with remote once sheep has entered crate, indicator will then select which gate to open, use remote to open back gate again. While in this mode you can override the drafter at any time with the long range remote.

2-Way Electric Drafter c/w MP600 Loadbars (P2ED)

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Animal Handling Systems AutoDrafters The Prattley AutoDrafter is a powerful tool allowing a single operator to control weighing and drafting of 600+ lambs an hour. The Prattley AutoDrafter coordinates with the external Tru-Test indicator and loadbars.

The rear gates have vertical rollers which allow the gates to roll around sheep as they close and the following sheep to pull back without getting caught.

The design eliminates the need to have dedicated left or right hand operation.

• • • • • • • •

Quiet Pneumatic operation Auto weigh/draft approx 600 sheep per hour Conventional drafting with Remote EID compatible Drafting by weight Drafting by weight gain Drafting on EID tag database Drafting by sight (remote manual drafting)

• • • •

Selective weighing/drafting Selective by passing of weighing cycle Weigh-then-HOLD to allow inspection before drafting Remote override of indicators draft range

Weigh head not included, see page 9

AutoDrafters c/w MP600 Loadbars: 3 Way (P3ADS) with Mobility (P3ADM) 5 Way (P5ADS) with Mobility (P5ADM)

See it in action, visit our You Tube channel; RitcheyLtd

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Animal Handling Systems Handling Race For drenching, mouthing, dagging, ear tagging, selecting, foot treatment, etc.

• • • • • • •

Lightweight, combining the strength of aluminium and durable UV stabilised Uniboard One person can assemble race and drench sheep quickly and easily Versatile combinations of single or double lane races, two or three sections long Large or small flocks handled with equal ease Easy to assemble and transport, fits inside the Prattley Yard Width 33” (0.85m) variable by pivoting one side Side release gates available to draft sheep out

Handling Race Components Uniboard Panels •

c/w two pins each

4’ x 36” Panel (PS25400) c/w coupling (PS25400C) 8’ x 33” Panel (PS25600) c/w coupling (PS25600C) 8’ x 36” Panel (PS25700) 8’ x 39” Panel (PS25800)

Uniboard Panel •

8” x 36” c/w Release Gate

Right handed (PS26300R) Left handed - shown (PS26300L)

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Animal Handling Systems Handling Race Components

Spreader - 33” W’ (PS23100)

Spreader - 33” ‘U’ (PS23000)

Back Gate c/w Post 33” ‘W’ (PS28000)

B ack Gate c/w Post ‘U’ (PS27900)

Small Farm Handling System Can be used in conjunction with Prattley Mobile Sheep Yard System or as a standalone unit anywhere on your farm.

• • •

Use existing fence to extend pen areas Drafting, drenching, dagging, tailing Lightweight and portable, easy to erect, disassemble and store

Includes: • 7’ x 36” Alloy gates x 6 (PS20500) • 8’ x 36” Ply panel & release gate x 1 (PS26300L) • 8’ x 33” Ply panel x 1 (PS25600) • U Post gal 18” x 2 (PS24500) • Drop in gate 18” alloy x 2 (PS22400)

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Animal Handling Systems Cattle Equipment Cattle Manager Includes: • Scissor Head Bail • Strong Galvanized Steel construction • Anti-Backing Ratchet system • Non-slip perforated floor Options: • V Squeeze • Vet Gates • Split Gates • 3-way Draft Handle • Full side release gates • Mobility Systems • Left or right side operation • Stationary or Mobile

See it in action, visit our You Tube channel; RitcheyLtd

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Animal Handling Systems Small Farm Cattle Yards • • • • • •

Alloy fabrication for lightweight handling and strength Durable Unit packs flat, easy storage Quick and easy to assemble Head bail/loading ramp can be added Components also sold individually allowing for customised layouts

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Animal Handling Systems Cattle Yard Components Standard Gate

Diamond Gate

Drafting Gate

• •

Right handed - shown

Right handed (PC16000R) Left handed - shown (PC16000L)

2.7m wide x 1.6m High Approx. 25kg

(PC15100R)

(PC15000)

Left handed (PC15100L)

Swinging Race Gate

Sliding Race Gate

Spreader

•

•

•

c/w spreader

Right handed

c/w spreader

(PC15400)

(PC15300)

(PC15200R)

30” Alloy Spreader

Left handed PC15200L)

Personnel Gate •

Alloy 2 Way Coupling

Alloy 3 Way Coupling

Alloy 4 Way Coupling

(PC15700)

(PC15800)

(PC16100)

c/w spreader

(PC15500)

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Animal Handling Systems Alpaca Gates • • • • • • •

Lightweight alloy construction Sold individually allowing for custom set ups Ideal for shows Can hook onto floats/ transporters Dependable and durable Easy to store 7’ x 48”

(PS20700)

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Case Studies Matthew Blyth of Didling Farm in West Sussex knows firsthand how using technology has driven his business forward. One of the first farmers to really embrace EID he has proved that collecting and using data can improve decision-making and profitability.

“About seven years ago we started with EID tags and a stick reader and used them alongside some spring balance scales and a Tru-Test XR3000 weigh head” says Matt.

“Very soon we realised the huge potential of this technology and invested in a Prattley 3-way auto-drafter with an EID crate and some Tru-Test load bars”. The new system meant that as sheep entered the crate their EID tags were read and their weight recorded. Using criteria already preset into the XR3000 the sheep could then be drafted automatically by Matt using a remote control.

“We built the system up a bit like Lego, but then we realised that we needed an additional gate as there were always a group of sheep or lambs that we needed to separate for some reason, either because their tags wouldn’t read or they had a problem that we needed to treat. We upgraded to a 5-way autodrafter and now find that we use all five gates every time.”

The reason such investment could be justified was due to some immediate cost-savings in time and external costs. “This year at weaning we separated 1400 ewes from their lambs and batched them into four groups: ewe lambs, lambs 35kg plus, 30-35kg and under 35kg.

That’s a big job on any farm, but having the right equipment meant that I did it in less than 10 hours with just me and the dog.”

Matt has two adjoining farms totalling 1200 acres in total with only one permanent under-shepherd, but the system is completely mobile and packs away along with 20 hurdles that can be towed on the back of the quad or pick up. Because it is so compact and lightweight it’s much easier to handle the flock and Matt finds that they are now weighing every two weeks throughout the grazing season.

sire so we know that we can afford to send some lambs at a lower weight and still make the profit we need. This can be particularly beneficial in a drought year when grazing is running low.”

Matt believes that there are animal husbandry benefits to be had as well. “Almost immediately we started saving money on the drugs we used – by weighing accurately and dosing accordingly we found we were using less when drenching, it might be only 2ml less per sheep, but over the course of a year we were saving hundreds of pounds. Now that we have data going back several years we have a clear idea of the daily weight gain we expect on our farm and if lambs are putting on weight fine we won’t worm automatically. If some lambs aren’t performing we can do a fecal egg count and treat as necessary, so it allows us to follow SCOPS principles. We’ve also noticed that frequent handling means we pick up on other health problems such as flystrike and lameness more quickly – and the data tells us that these kinds of underlying conditions really reduce finishing rates if not dealt with promptly.”

The long term benefits to having all this information is that Matt, and the consultants he employs to help, can analyse the past to plan for the future. “We’ve seen real benefits on the breeding side of things because we can see within one season whether a ram is doing his job or not. In the past we have experimented with various breeds of terminal sires for the bulk of the commercial flock, by looking at the information we got through EID we learned that the best results on our farm came from a local breed, the Southdown.”

“My boss wouldn’t have written the cheque for this equipment if he couldn’t see that it would benefit our bottom line right from the start, but it’s when you have a few years of data that you can begin to see the potential to take your business forward. The figures don’t lie, so for longer-term planning like grass management and breeding programmes it’s invaluable.”

“By monitoring their progress regularly, we prevent over-fattening lambs and can send batches to the abattoir more frequently and that helps cash flow.

Using the data we get back from the abattoir through the EID tags we have worked out that the killing out percentages on our farm differ from some of the national averages allowing us to calculate our profitability more accurately. We have also learned that the deadweight differs with certain breeds of terminal

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Case Studies Robert Neill farms with his wife Jac, at Upper Nisbet, near Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders. They have a beef herd of around 300 Limousin-cross and have found that weighing their cattle at weaning and finishing keeps the business productive.

Weaning weights are a vital indicator of the success of the Upper Nisbet breeding programme and Robert believes that accurate weighing early in an animal’s life can indicate future performance. “Straightaway we can look at the milk productivity of the dam and know which bulls are performing best. When we’re vaccinating and worming at this point, we also save money and ensure the best results by knowing their weight – there’s no guesswork involved.”

“

Straightaway we can look at the milk productivity of the dam and know which bulls are performing best

”

Cattle go on to their finishing ration for the last 90-120 days, at which point Robert weighs more regularly, “By weighing every 30 days, we get essential information about their daily liveweight gain and we know when they hit the target weight for our customers and our profitability. Our cattle mostly go to local butchers and because we have an accurate off-farm weight it’s easy to calculate our killing out percentages”.

Robert started weighing his cattle regularly 15 years ago, when he purchased some Tru-Test Heavy Duty Load Bars and then later upgraded to a Tru-Test XR3000 indicator. “When I first got the XR3000, I just played around with the settings in the evening sat in front of the TV and I soon got the hang of it. Although it was quite daunting at first, it’s actually fairly straightforward, even downloading the information into my FarmPlan software is easy.

“

The system we have

now is quick and efficient

”

Since then, he’s introduced electronic tagging, first using an electronic wand and later incorporating a panel reader into a new crush. “The system we have now is quick and efficient, we have one man on the crush and one on the race. The indicator is set up to register the information automatically and as we don’t have to write anything down, there are no mistakes.

And it’s safer, too - the more automated the system, the less stress for the animal and the handlers.”

You can view our product demonstration videos by visiting our online video library

www.ritchey.co.uk

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Service & Repair We offer in-house Servicing and Repair on the following items: • • • • •

Electronic Weighing Equipment (Tru-Test and Iconix) Animal Handling Equipment (Prattley and Alligator) Clippers and Shearering Equipment (Heiniger, Oster, Andis, Hauptner and more) Dehorners (including Portasol) and Gas De-budders Hotshot Pulsar Coaxers

Turnaround timescales can vary, however you will be notified on enquiry.

Sharpening Service We sharpen a wide range of clipper blades for many industries including groomers, agricultural, equine & veterinarian. We also sharpen and realign scissors (Straight edge and Blenders) to the highest standards.

Turnaround Times We aim to: Sharpen and dispatch blades and scissors within 2 working days of receipt* Service/Repair all other items and have them dispatched within 3 working days of receipt* *Only if quote has been requested and accepted by the customer. Turnaround timescales can vary, however you will be notified on enquiry.

Customer Service We strive to provide a top class experience and carry out the work as quickly and as cost friendly as possible for our customers. Our friendly and efficient Sharpening and Repair team are highly experienced in this field and use their expertise and knowledge to advise customers of the best course of action in any situation.

Tel: 01207 523162

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Email: servicing@ritchey.co.uk

Tel: 0800 1588245 Fax: 01207 523178 Email: info@ritchey.co.uk www.ritchey.co.uk

Contacts Scotland Tim Waistell M: 07711 210374 E: tim.waistell@ritchey.co.uk

North West England Michael Totty M: 07860 925475 E: michaeltotty@coxagri.com

North East England Sean O’Toole M: 07724 380505 E: sean.otoole@ritchey.co.uk

South East England Liz Speller M: 07401 054045 E: liz.speller@ritchey.co.uk Wales Andy Menzies Tel: 07860 925473 Email: andymenzies@coxagri.com

Technical Support Team

Neil Pamplin (Prattley National) M: 07812 355382 E: neil.pamplin@ritchey.co.uk Paul Hunter (Tru-Test National) M: 07789 953721 E: paul.hunter@ritchey.co.uk

Chris Byrne (Alligator & Prattley North) M: 07766 252983 E: chrisbyrne@coxagri.com

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Tel: 0800 1588245 Fax: 01207 523178 Email: info@ritchey.co.uk Web: www.ritchey.co.uk