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3E2374 Sheep Auto Drafter User Manual
light levels so consider installing translucent polycarbonate roofing and or walls if
the area is dark.
Noise
In facilities where livestock are handled, loud or novel noises should be avoided
because they distress livestock. The sound of metal clashing together can cause
balking and agitation. As the Sheep Auto Drafter is constructed of composite
materials its operation is very quiet but the noise level in the surrounding yards
should be considered. The compressor providing air for the Sheep Auto Drafter is
best located at a distance to reduce noise levels. Rubber stops on gates in the
yards around the Sheep Auto Drafter will help reduce noise.
The effects of pain or fright
Research indicates that sheep can remember a painful or frightening experience
for many months. Sheep which had been inverted in a sheep handling machine
were more difficult to move through the machine the following year
that the Sheep Auto Drafter has been designed with the comfort and safety of
stock in mind will help to ensure animals' experience of them is positive. This will
aid in the smooth entry and flow of stock through the system on future
occasions.
It is also worthwhile keeping in mind that livestock which have had gentle
handling in the past will be less stressed when they are handled in the future.
Think about how your actions will affect your future interactions with stock and
the efficiency of the operations you wish to carry out.
Moving the Sheep Auto Drafter
As the Sheep Auto Drafter is very light (~100 kg), due to its construction from
composite materials, it can be lifted manually by two people.
Note: Make sure you have the side panels attached when you shift the Sheep
Auto Drafter and that they are on the inside slot. Also, close the gates at either
end.
Transport poles can be purchased from your local Gallagher distributor which
can be inserted into slots provided in the gate surrounds (see Figure 5). Once the
poles have been inserted the Sheep Auto Drafter can be lifted and repositioned
(see Figure 6).
Warning! The drafter should be lifted when moved, not dragged. Dragging the
Sheep Auto Drafter will risk damage to the load cells housed within each foot.
1
Hutson, G.D. (1980). The effect of previous experience on sheep movement
through yards. Applied Animal Ethology 6 :233.
1
. The fact
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