Agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries in Australia, but new equipment to help handle sheep is helping to make it safer.
Key points:
- Sheep handlers can be used for a range of tasks
- The Millewa-Carwarp Landcare Group lends out its sheep handler
- Animal health company says sheep handlers are growing in popularity
And it could help with staff shortages, allowing older farmers to keep working in the sheep yards.
According to The National Centre for Farmer Health, 21 per cent of worker fatalities across all Australian industries occur on farms, and many more suffer injuries that require hospitalisation.
Those older than 65 years accounted for 36 per cent of all deaths.
Statistics show also show sheep farmers are ageing.
The average age of an Australian sheep farmer has increased from 52 years in 2000 to 62 years in 2020, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.
Sheep handler prevents injury
There are a variety of sheep handlers on the market, some are operated manually and others have hydraulics.
But they all are designed to immobilise stock to make it easier for farmers to care for their flock without having to risk injury by climbing through tightly-packed sheep.
The Millewa-Carwarp Landcare Group, in the far north west of Victoria near the New South Wales border, has owned a sheep handler for three years.
Group coordinator Annette Lambert said members could borrow the device, enabling them to work independently.
"It's probably out (about) three quarters of the year, it does a lot of kilometres and assists a lot of farmers," Mrs Lambert said.
The Holland sheep handler is made in Renmark, South Australia, and its so popular, there's currently a 10-month-wait for new orders.
The Pryse family from Torrita, west of Ouyen, recently borrowed the sheep handler for the first time.
They run 1,000 Merino ewes on their 1,620 hectare property.
"We're just trying to have a go before we buy something, just to make sure it will be fit for purpose," farmer Daniel Pryse said.
He said the sheep handler made working with livestock easier, which was good news for his back and knees.
He said the task of drenching, which was giving sheep medications to prevent parasites, would normally be done in a farmer's "working race".
"But I've got to get in with the sheep and manhandle them," he said.
"[With the sheep handler] I didn't have to do that."
However, he said operating the equipment took some practice.
"Occasionally [sheep's] legs can get stuck under the bars, you just have to make sure they are all clear and then you can lower it down and let them out," Mr Pryse said.
Work safety issue
Farmer Wayne Coffey, who designed and sells another sheep handler called Combi Clamp, said interest in the equipment was also growing because it was hard to find staff willing to do livestock work.
"It's been getting harder and harder over the last three or four years," he said.
"There's a lot of people who are doing everything at home, they can't find casual labour, so they've got to find an easier way of doing it," he said.
Mr Coffey said some farmers were reluctant to buy the sheep handler because they couldn't figure out how to adapt their existing sheep yards to accommodate the equipment.
"What I suggest to clients is to get 300 sheep and try it in three different spots and then decide which one's the better one that suits the sheep running," he said.
Zoetis western Victoria sales representative Ashely Reed said sheep handlers were soaring in popularity.
"It's an occupational health and safety issue, being able to handle sheep in a safe environment," Mr Reed said
He said it was better for the animals, and the workers who were drenching for the sheep to be still and less stressed.
"You're able to administer your animal heath and vaccinate in the right spots without them jumping around," he said.