Towards the end of 2007 Prattley was approached by the new owners and managers of Pooginook Merino Stud at Coleambally to design, manufacture and construct new sheep working yards. The aim was to have two separate working areas that could be used independently to facilitate multiple tasks. As Pooginook already had some existing strong (but not as functional) yards we tried the best we could to utilize these and create the best outcome, but not be too influenced what was there.

The two areas designed are;

1. Typical drafting and working race area featuring
   • Bugle design
   • 4 way draft
   • Raised double working race with 3 way draft at the end.
   • Roof over draft and working races
   • 2 diamond yards for catching sheep or going from one pen to the other, designed in a way that if one pen gets full then it should be able to spill into another that is empty.
2. Goose neck working area featuring;
   • Curved lead up
   • Rotary force that keeps crowding sheep towards the race entry.
   • Adjustable curved lead up race.
   • Prattley 5 way autodrafter, including classing box.
   • Recessed ‘pit’ for classer to stand in to get a good view of the animal being classed.
   • Roof over rotary force, race and autodrafter.
   • 5 yards that sheep can be automatically drafted into. Animals can be drafter by weight, micron, sire groups, comfort factor, sex etc or what ever live data that you have collected. The antenna on the side of the autodrafter read the electronic ear tag which can recognize that animal and automatically draft to whatever the desired field is.

The system of integrating the Prattley autodrafter, Tru Test XR3000 indicator and Allflex panel antenna is a tried and true relationship of equipment that will work.

This is the third set of stockyards we have built for Pooginook over the last eight years. Prattley would like to thank them for their repeat business and putting the trust in is to built a state of the art system for handling sheep.

The Australian steel market is currently highly volatile .We have been hit by rapid escalations in our purchase prices this calendar year. This has flown through to all our steel based componentry (e.g catches,caps) as well.

• Raw material cost increases. Ore and coal prices have been driven as mining companies struggle to meet demand
• Shipping cost increases
• Increased demand worldwide but especially in China
• Application of tariffs to Chinese steel exporters by their government to keep steel in the country and encourage domestic value adding
• Good old fashioned price gouging by the Australian steel mills. The ACCC allowed the merging of the two main steel milling entities in Australia in the previous year which has left them with unprecedented market power

To date we have had two general rises on pre-galvanised material (R.H.S and rail sections) totaling 21%.Hot dipped product has risen by up to 33%.

What is more worrying is the further round of price rises flagged for the rest of the financial year. Purlin and iron prices will rise by at least 20% in July. Similar rises have been flagged by Australian suppliers for tubular, structural and reinforcing for the period between May and July. (That is pretty much all steel categories).

Many of our clients are choosing to bring forward their planned stockyard and shearing shed purchases to avoid the inevitable steel price rises.

Most are choosing finance options to beat the steel price rises and to maintain their cash flow.

Andrew Hunter
Director
Prattley Livestock Equipment

Prattley was chosen to supply and install the new sheep loading ramps and drafting races at the recently opened Central Tablelands Livestock Exchange.

The Prattley ramps were chosen because of their superior design which maximizes operator safety and stock flow.

These ramps are from the Prattley saleyard range which are extra heavy duty to handle constant use. Some of the ramp features include a walkway that goes right to the end of the ramp, this maximises operator access. A truckie access allows quick access to the ramp and stock crate from the walkway.

The ramps were designed with input from major livestock carriers; because of this Prattley ramps are the preferred loading ramps of many carriers.

  

A recent Prattley project has been to design, manufacture and install new horse holding facilities at the new state of the art Charles Sturt University Equine Centre.

The work includes mare holding pens, stallion holding pens, under cover mare yards, teasing facilities and loading and unloading facilities.

The yards were designed to maximize safety of the horses. The yards have a smooth top rail and oval cattle rail rails to ensure horse safety.

This work follows on from the cattle and sheep complexes Prattley have built at Charles Sturt University.

 

Prattley designer Damien Halloway and yard foreman George Wittacker with the 1450 head capacity cattleyards sold to John Seccombe of Kenya Pastoral Company, Longreach. The yards represent state of the art design with pneumatic drafting systems which improve stock flow and reduce labour requirements.

 

Prattley have recently installed five under and over cattle ramps at the new Central Tablelands Livestock Exchange (CTLX).

These loading ramps represent the latest in safe livestock loading and unloading.

Elevated walkways and gates with special catches that can be operated from walkways mean operators and stock are separated. Most injuries occur in forcing yards that is why it is so important to separate cattle and drivers.

The ramps have a hydraulically operated deck height adjuster. The ramp floors can be adjusted to suit different crates.

Operator access is a feature with walkways and steps or both sides of the ramp.

Prattley has incorporated feedback from major livestock carriers in the design of truckie access doors. We have also included a sliding gate at the truck end on both decks. This means that the driver is totally isolated from stock when closing the truck door.

Many livestock carriers regard Prattley loading ramps as the best available.