Permanent Sheepyards

ProWay have built sheepyards across Australia. The majority of our work comes from word of mouth and repeat purchases. Referrals from livestock carriers, existing clients, vets, government departments, stud producers etc. are the source of our continued growth.

We greatly appreciate these referrals which have come about by delivering a quality product and ensuring the client is happy.

Our designs and products have been refined over time. Because of our focus on safety and stock flow ProWay sheepyards are very highly regarded by vets, government departments, livestock carriers, stock contractors and stock agents.

It is important to get the design right. Details such as the side a gate swings from, angles in bugles, the length of the gates, the yard orientation, corners in yards and the relative size of yards, all influence stock flow. Stock flow determines the yards efficiency and has a direct impact on minimising stress on stock.

Our Aims when Designing and Building Sheepyards are:

• Maximising sheep flow
• Operator efficiency and safety
• Ensuring the yards suit your site and operation
• Product longevity

The design of sheepyards has changed over time. Our designs reflect the fact that there is now more individual processing of sheep.
Yard designs need to reflect changes in husbandry and include areas to weigh lambs, scan ewes etc. and also areas for contractors.

Points to Consider…….When Purchasing Sheepyards Does the manufacturer have stock handling 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 raised handling race be beneficial? Which way should the yards be orientated? Sun and shadows can affect stockflow. 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?

Sheep Adjustable Vee Drafting Race

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 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 blocking off or swing out to fold flat against the race. They are designed with a ‘bulletproof’ hinge which will last.
• The draft has swing away 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 race is available as either a permanent unit to be concreted into the ground, or a skid mounted unit, which can be dynabolted to a concrete pas, or used as a portable unit.
• The unit is heavily constructed with durability a feature

• Posts are 50NB hot dipped gal pipe.
• Rails are 32NB high tensile gal pipe.
• Sheet is a heavy 1.5mm gal.
• Draft stoppers are heavy duty.

• Dimensions of race

• Overall length: 3460mm + draft gates
• Width: posts at 600mm centres (560mm between sides)
• Height: 1050mm

Sheeprail Range

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 1050 high.

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 dipped 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 swinging from them, an 80NB (90mm O.D) post is used. Straps are used mid length between rails 3.0m or larger to further strengthen panels.

Pipe Range

Pipe Range

Our pipe range are built using high tensile pipe. They feature a top rail of 25NB (34mm O.D), and 5 other rails of 20NB (26 mm O.D) standing one metre high. The pipe range remains robust and is a more economical option than the sheeprail range. As with the sheeprail range, posts are generally 50NB (60.3 O.D) hot dip galvanised pipe, with larger gates being swung from 80NB (90mm 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 latched 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 rick of sheep breaking a leg if they attempt to jump the gate.

Sheeted Panels

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

Handling Races

Standard width is 600mm (centre of posts). This width allows the operator to work outside the race. 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 fencelines when not in use.

Guillotine Gates

Guillotine gates minimise walking as they can be operated from anywhere along the handling race. They are operated by pulling on a cable which has a counterweight attached so the gate will stay in either its fully opened or fully closed position. The gate has vertical rails that eliminate the risk of sheep breaking a leg if they attempt to jump the gate.

Options for ProWay Sheepyards

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Sheep Rotary Force and Adjustable Curved Race

Sheep Rotary Forces

Many producers are doing more individual processing of sheep. Research has shown there is enormous variation between individual animals in terms of weight gain, feed conversion etc. which in turn influences profitability. Therefore there is an increasing amount of individual processing of sheep.

To address the need for a safe and efficient lead up, ProWay have designed, built and tested a sheep rotary force with a curved adjustable race, which provides an ideal lead up to a handler, scan crate, classing box or similar.

Sheep Rotary Force and Adjustable Curved Race

The design is based on our cattle rotary force, which has been providing a similar function for cattle producers for many years.

The size of the rotary force pen can be decreased as the amount of sheep decreases. The force and the race are curved and sheeted to promote stock flow.

The rotary forces and curved races have proven popular with ram breeders who need to quickly process larger numbers of rams. The rotary force and curved race greatly reduces the amount of physical handling required. It is much easier to work along with a ram than against it.

We can design a rotary force and curved race into your new or existing sheepyards.
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