Prattley shearing sheds and shearing fit outs are designed to minimise stress on operators, maximise stock flow and provide a safe working environment.

Occupational, Health and Safety is a major criterion when Prattley design a shearing shed. Prattley Burbidge Sawtooth Shearing Sheds are regarded as the safest available.

As with all Prattley products strength and longevity are assured by the quality of materials used.

Prattley build two shearing shed layouts. The Burbidge Sawtooth design and The Straight Board, lane fill catching pen design.

Prattley also fit out existing sheds.

Burbidge Sawtooth at Hay NSW

Burbidge Sawtooth at Hay NSW

Note the natural light in Prattley Shearing Sheds

Prattley Shearing Shed at Burraboi NSW

"I am extremely happy with my Prattley yards and the Prattley fit out of my wool shed. The workmanship and dealing with Prattley was first class. Prattley’s yards make working stock a pleasure. My shearing contractor and his shearer’s say it’s the best shed they shear in for the season. Work Safe Victoria has told me the shed is at the cutting edge in terms of OH & S."

Geoff Cain
Casterton VIC

Burbidge Sawtooth Design Shearing Board

Features and OHS Advantages

• Catching pens slope forward to make dragging out easier
• Sheep fill catching pens at 45 degrees and not towards catching pen doors
• Minimises shearers turning while dragging sheep
• Wide recessed chutes for easy sheep exit
• Large shearers shelf
• 1.6m high board front
• Slide swing gates
• Gates between catching pens for transfer of sheep at cut outs
• Separates shearers for safety in case of losing sheep
• Back support arms
• Cut out switch can be mounted on board front
• Raised board with access to two sides of shearer
• Handrail to protect shearers on raised board
• Softwood board to minimise damage to combes
• Optional leftie chute (can be used to pre crutch sheep while shearing and return sheep on grating)
• Sheeted internal fences to aid sheep flow
• Space for locks bins under board

Straight Board, Lane Fill Catching Pen Design

Features and OHS Advantages

• Wide recessed chutes for easy sheep exit
• Large shearers shelf
• 1.6m high board front
• Slide swing gates
• Lane fill catching pens. Once sheep enter when filling they will not come back out.
• Raised board
• Split catching pen doors
• Back support arms
• Cut out switch can be mounted on board front
• Handrail to protect shearers on raised board
• Softwood board to minimise damage to combes
• Sheeted internal fences to aid sheep flow
• Space for locks bins under board

Custom Design

Prattley offers a custom design service for genuine clients. The shearing shed design service covers the following issues;

• Correctly positioning the new shed
• Determining the shearing shed size based on required sheep and wool storage
• Discussing what site preperation is required
• Incorporating the existing sheepyards and the new shearing shed or designing new sheepyards with the new shearing shed
• Considering all shearing shed design options such as a skillion over the yards or loading facilities out of the shed etc.
• Discussing Occupational, Health and Safety requirements.

Key Design Features

Operator Safety

Note access laneway to sheep area

In the Burbidge Sawtooth each shearer has a separate work area. This minimises the chance of injury caused by lost sheep and out of position shearers.

The Burbidge design is unique in that it minimises the length of the drag for each shearer but most importantly minimises the need to turn when dragging. Research has shown that turning while dragging is a major cause of back and knee injury.

Each shearer has a large shelf for combes, cutters, tool boxes etc.

The chutes are recessed into the board and down from the board. Sheep tend to fall down the chute rather than needing to be pushed. The chutes are 600mm wide providing plenty of room for rams and larger sheep.

There is a handrail along the board to protect shearers.

The Burbidge Sawtooth design meets all relevant Occupational, Health and Safety codes.

It has been described by Workcover as the safest design they have seen.

The Shed

Laserlite in gable for natural light
and shutters for air flow

Prattley build a traditional shed. Depending on the sheds size, shed columns are UB. C section gal purlins and wall girts are used. 0.47 corrugated iron is used as the cladding.

Prattley sheds use RHS web trusses.

Engineer drawings can be provided.

By using the above materials you can be sure your shed will stand the test of time.

Orientation

The orientation of your shearing shed is an important consideration.

Correctly positioned shutters, doors and removable lower panels maximise ventilation for cooling and drying stock when required.

Laserlite panelling in southern walls provides excellent natural light without creating heat. Natural light improves stock flow as it minimises the contrast from above and below grating.

The Board

The board front is 1.6m. This improves stock flow as sheep entering catching pens cannot see shearers and activity on the board.

The raised sawtooth board provides access to two sides of the shearer. Lock bins can be placed under the board. Push cut out switches can be mounted on the front of the board.

Back support swing arms are mounted from the plant pole.

Research has shown that the correct positioning of the down tube in relation to the catching pen doors and the let go chute is vital in making a shearer’s job as easy as possible.

Some shearers using the Burbidge Sawtooth remain in their back support while catching a new sheep.

A leftie stand is an option. This stand can be used for a right or left hand shearer. It can also be used to put shorn sheep back on the grating. Some clients use it to do a pre-shearing crutch.

Catching Pens

Catching pens are sloped to aid dragging out sheep.

The catching pens are at 45 degrees so sheep do not enter towards the catching pen doors. Sheep are drawn into the pens by sheep in the adjoining pen. Gates between catching pens allow for moving sheep at cut outs.

The back gates of catching pens are slide swing, making filling easier.

The grating used is a 65x38 Mountain Ash (Cypress is an option).

Sheep Area

The grating has a taper on it to ensure it will not get blocked with manure. Melwire flooring is also an option.

Sheeted fences are used strategically to promote sheep flow. All gates where required are slide swing. Most gates are braced above for extra strength.

Prattley include a complete fence around the shed wall to avoid any chance of damage to iron caused by sheep hitting it.

In most designs we incorporate an access laneway through the sheep. This is especially useful to get back to the wool room after penning up.

Pipe rail count out pens are included under the shed. Count out pens beside the shed are an option.

Ramp into Sheds

Ramp into Prattley Shearing Shed
near Wagga Wagga NSW

A concrete floor sheeted side ramp is an ideal ramp into a shearing shed.

Timber based ramps will deteriorate over time and Need replacing.

The Wool Room

Most Prattley shearing sheds have a concrete wool room. This allows the shed to be used for storage etc throughout the year. A timber wool room is an option.

Shearing Shed Options Available

• Fit out only
• Straight board, lane fill catching pen design
• Skillion over sheepyards
• All timber to be cypress (white ant proof)
• Timber wool room
• Raised shed with sheep storage under wool room
• Loading ramp or door from grating
• Melwire flooring
• Expanded mesh entry platform (to clean boots before entering)
• Count out pens outside of shed
• Prattley can supply wool bins and shearing plants

Melwire flooring is an option

A skillion over sheepyards increases holding capacity and provides a weather proof water environment

Installation

Prattley have experience shearing shed erection crews.

Each shearing shed is fully drawn on our 3D CAD program. These plans and products go through several checks before getting to site.

Our construction crews have CAD drawings on all components and how they go together. The result is a stream lined professional installation.

"When handling stud sheep your facilities need to be strong and be designed to maximise stock flow. Prattley’s product is first rate and I can’t fault the design. I would recommend Prattley to anyone wanting new yards or a shearing shed."

Simon Male
‘Aberdeen Poll Dorset Stud’
Henty NSW