Permanent Sheepyards

Points To Consider When Purchasing Sheepyards

• Does the manufacturer have stockhandling experience and understand your operation? What size mobs come into the yards?
• Are the manufacturers’ designs proven? How many mobs are in the yards at one time? Do permanent, relocatable or portable yards suit your needs best? You need to consider your site and which design suits existing structures.
• Do you need a single or double handling race? Would a race handling race be beneficial?
• Which way should the yards be orientated? Sun and shadows can affect stock flow.
• Are there enough access gates in the yards? Is the position of gates in the design correct?
• Are they swung off the correct side? Slope can also affect stock flow.
• Have you considered where all husbandry operations will take place?
• Are the yards strong enough and high enough to handle your stock? What rail type would best suit your operation?

ProWay Permanent Sheepyards

ProWay has two permanent yard types;

• Sheep rail
• Pipe

Sheep Adjustable Vee Drafting Race

Features

• The sheep adjustable vee drafting race can be narrowed in at the base. This ensures sheep approach the draft in single file. The adjustment allows the capability to handle varying size sheep. Freshly shorn sheep can be slowed down by narrowing the vee.
• The draft is supplied with tumble swing gates at both ends. These drop across the race to give quick blocking off or swing out to fold flat against the race. They are designed with a ‘bullet-proof’ hinge which will last.
• The draft has swing away draft stoppers which allow draft gates to swing out of the way for access, or to fit a weighcrate in place of the draft gates.
• The unit is heavily constructed with durability a feature
  • Posts are 50NB hot dipped gal pipe and will not rust at ground level.
  • Rails are 32NB high tensile gal pipe for strength.
  • Sheet is a heavy 1.6mm gal.
  • Draft stoppers are heavy duty and will take a life time or abuse.
• Dimensions of race
  • Overall length; 3460mm + draft gates
  • Width; posts at 600mm centres (560mm between sides)
  • Height; 1050mm

Options

• Drivers side and passenger side available.

Sheeprail Range

These are an extra heavy duty product. Rails are galvanised oval tube; 53mm x 35mm. the oval profile of tube presents a flat vertical surface, giving excellent visibility to sheep with no sharp edges. Panels have 6 rails, and are 1050mm high. 50mm higher than most yards to prevent sheep jumping.

Panels have a large gap between the top two rails to minimise the chance of sheep or dogs breaking legs.

The posts are from 50NB hot sipped galvanised pipe. The hot dip galvanised finish gives maximum protection from rust where posts come in contact with the soil, and associated urine and faeces.

Where posts have a gate 2.5 metres or larger gate swinging from them, an 80NB (90mm O.D) post is used. Straps are used mid length between rails on panels 3.0m or larger to further strengthen panels.

Pipe Range

Pipe range are built using high tensile pipe. They feature a top rail of 25NB (34mm O.D), and 5 other rails of 20NB (26mm O.D) standing 1m high. The pipe range remains robust and is a cheaper option than the sheeprail range. As with the sheeprail range, posts are generally 50NB (60.3 O.D) hot dipped galvanised pipe, with larger gates being swung from 80NB (90 mm O.D) posts. Straps are also used mid length between rail on larger panels to increase strength. Both ranges have other features they share.

Tumble Swing Gates

Tumble gates were developed for blocking races and drafting races in sheepyards. They pivot from the centre of the post towards the operator and swing around flush against the fence. The gate opens very quickly with no need to have latches or chains as the gate fits between two posts and gravity keeps it shut. The gates are especially useful when sheep are packed hard against the gate because the operator does not need to clear the sheep away from it. The gate has vertical rails so eliminating the risk of sheep breaking a leg if they attempt to jump the gate.

Sheeted Panels

Sheeted panels are used strategically around the sheepyards to aid the flow of sheep. They are made from 1.6mm galvabond with the top of the panel at 1m high. They have silicon behind the sheeting to deaden noise.

Handling Races

Standard width is 600mm (centre of posts). This width allows the operator to work outside the race. Races are braced underneath for added strength. Race gates come with vertical rails and a slam shut catch. Races have a smooth top to ensure drenching hoses etc do not get caught. Each race handling panel can be removed to fit in a scanner etc.

Gates can be chained back

All gates have chains on them so they can be chained back to fence lines when not in use.

The gates have an inverted T chain slot. This ensures sheep can be left securely in yards without the chance of chains being lifted from slots and opening gates.

Rotating Hinges

Rotating hinges have been included in the design of gates that need to fold back against both sides of the fence. This eliminates sheep getting caught behind gates. It also helps avoid having to open a gate into a pen full of sheep. Rotating hinges reduce stress on gates and hinges as gates can be opened fully back against the fence avoiding sheep hitting half open gates.

Guillotine Gates

Guillotine gates were designed to minimise the time the operator spent walking along the handling race.

The guillotine gate is positioned at the end of the handling race and cable runs the length of the race.

The operator can use the cable to lift (open) and shut the gate from anywhere along the race.

A counter weigh enables the guillotine gate to be easily left open or shut.

Options

• 1100mm high Ram Breeder sheepyards.
• Strip sheeting on gates.
• Haz spring bolt catches on gates.
• Raised handling races.
• Roof over working area.
• Rotary forces
• Weighcrates and autodrafters
• Dedicated processing areas.