Wool harvesting innovations on show

Woolgrowers viewed a wide range of wool harvesting initiatives and technologies at an AWI Wool Harvesting Innovation Demonstration Day held last month. The innovations aim to make the job of harvesting easier and more efficient, which will help attract and retain harvesting workers in the industry.

Harvesting wool has always been a crucial component of all wool-growing operations – and AWI has a history of investment in new harvesting technologies, as well as shearer and wool handler training.

However, the recent COVID-related travel restrictions have created and highlighted a shortage of and demand for wool harvesting staff in Australia and the need for technological options to help with harvesting. This situation has been made more critical given that the size of the national flock is rising again.

Finding solutions for woolgrowers, now and for the long term, is a leading priority for AWI.

To enable woolgrowers to see the current results of AWI R&D work in this area, as well as commercial products from third-party manufacturers, AWI held a Wool Harvesting Innovation Demonstration Day last month at its Falkiner Memorial Field Station at Conargo in southern NSW.

AWI Chairman Jock Laurie said it was a great opportunity for woolgrowers to see where their wool levies have been invested by AWI and explore potential new harvesting options for their own enterprise.

“Shearing is the number one issue that woolgrowers talk to me about, and something I am familiar with as a grower myself. It is critically important to get this sorted as quickly as we can,” he said.

“The AWI harvesting innovation demonstration day at Falkiner enabled woolgrowers to see different shearing systems and it also offered them a chance to talk to leading machinery and shed manufacturers about design and construction.

“AWI staff were also on hand to provide the latest information to woolgrowers on shearing shed safety, shed design, and shearer and wool handler training initiatives.

“Every woolgrower’s operation and setup are different, but what we managed to do at the demonstration day was showcase in one venue a range of options for growers to see what could fit into their own business.

“There was a real buzz at the event. People’s feedback was that they had been encouraged by what they'd seen, and I think people there were very positive about the industry.”

Hear more from Jock Laurie in Episode 216 of AWI's The Yarn podcast, available at www.wool.com/podcast

Highlights from the demonstration day

Modular sheep delivery units

The modular sheep delivery unit (automatic version), manufactured by Haynes Engineering.

The AWI modular sheep delivery unit delivers sheep directly to the shearer. It not only eliminates the time and energy that shearers spend having to walk to the pen, catch a sheep and drag it back to the shearing stand, but it also minimises the chance of injury to the shearer from the dragging and twisting movements.

The design focuses on a ‘modular’ concept in which portable singular shearing stands can be joined together to make a multi-stand shearing platform, which can be stored away after use. Each modular unit holds three sheep in a continuous race at the back of the unit. A dummy pen is fitted onto the end of the race to assist with the flow of the sheep.

The automatic module contains a pneumatically powered delivery section that, at the press of a button, moves out from the race and then tilts the sheep into a position suitable for the shearer to then easily retrieve the animal.

There is also a manual module; the delivery race is very similar to the automatic module’s race, except that in the race there is a simple gate, in place of the automatic delivery section. The shearer simply opens the gate and collects the sheep from the race and manoeuvres the sheep the metre or so to the centre of the board before starting shearing.

For both modules, an angled shoot allows for simple release of the shorn sheep underneath the race – again without significant dragging or twisting.

The potential benefits of the modular sheep delivery unit for woolgrowers and the industry include:

• Improved efficiency for workers and the flow of livestock because the shearer no longer has to walk to a catching pen
• decrease in shearer injuries
• increased attraction and retention of shearers to the industry
• cost effective option when upgrading infrastructure
• provides an avenue for multipurpose sheds.

The engineering plans for the module are available from AWI for interested growers.

More information:

www.wool.com/sheep-delivery
www.haynesengineering.com.au

Peak Hill’s ShearEzy upright shearing machine

The Peak Hill ShearEzy unit being demonstrated by Shearing World.

Peak Hill’s ShearEzy upright shearing machine is designed to enable either experienced or novice shearers to shear sheep effectively and easily whilst the shearer is in an upright standing position. The ShearEzy is a result of AWI’s past investment in shearing technologies.

The ShearEzy was demonstrated at last month’s event by Shearing World, a company that specialises in the shearing of cross-bred rams. Their shearing trailers suit different farm areas, be it out in the yards or inside a big shed. The ShearEzy unit clamps the ram and rolls it over into a cradle where the back legs are locked in leg restraints. The ram is restrained enabling a pattern of shearing with big flat areas, which helps ensure a quality job. Furthermore, no sedative is required saving time and money and the rams are not off feed for too long, limiting any stress for all involved.

More information:

www.peakhillindustries.com.au
www.ramshearing.com.au

Shearing shed design and safety

The blueprints of AWI’s Shearing Shed Design are available free on the AWI website.

Woolgrowers heard from AWI staff about AWI’s Shearing Shed Design. This is a result of AWI and a working group of woolgrowers and shed staff in 2019 designing a shearing shed which addresses worker safety and animal welfare considerations, while also achieving improved shed efficiency and good wool quality outcomes. Dozens of sheds have now been built across the country using this design. The blueprints of the design and further information are available free on the AWI website. Woolgrowers also heard from AWI staff about the shearing shed safety program, SafeSheds.

More information: www.wool.com/sheddesign

Shear Anywhere wool harvesting system

Grant Burbidge talking to woolgrowers about his Shear Anywhere wool harvesting system.

 The Shear Anywhere was developed by woolgrower Grant Burbidge of Burbidge Farms located at Tarcutta in NSW and at Simpson in Victoria. The Shear Anywhere provides a novel approach to wool harvesting with the upright standing position for shearing, which removes a lot of strain from the shearer’s back. The sheep are delivered onto a shearing cradle to the shearer – the shearer does not have to catch and drag the sheep from a pen, which significantly reduces the physical strength required, while increasing shearer safety. A wider range of people are able to shear sheep on this system, compared to traditional shearing, because it required less strength. Skirting can be done on the platform as the fleece is shorn. A specific shearing shed is not needed for this system, with the modular units being portable.

More information: www.burbidgefarms.com/wool-harvesting

3D Shearing’s mobile trailer

The 3D Shearing mobile race delivery and shearing trailer.

3D Shearing is a contractor, based near Dubbo in NSW, with a custom-made three-stand mobile trailer with a single race delivery system to the shearer. The trailer has been specially designed with a short drag system that minimises the chance of injury to the shearer and the sheep whilst also maximising productivity with reduced catch times. There is a portable blow-up shed that goes over the trailer with plenty of extra room to contain the wool table, wool press and bales. The trailer can also be set up in a machinery shed or hay shed, rather than outside. The 3D Shearing option provides peace of mind that you have supplied a safe workplace for your team, and eliminates the cost and complexity of building a new shed.

More information: www.3dshearing.com.au

Other potential technology solutions on show

Portable, smart shearing handpiece: AWI has been working with a design company, 4c Design, to develop a prototype of a battery-operated handpiece with power equivalent to current shearing plant. This has the potential for incorporation of sensors to make shearing available to less experienced operators while increasing animal welfare.

Wearable tech to prevent shearing injuries: AWI-funded research continues into wearable technology that will potentially provide shearers with an early warning alert (via a display on a smartphone) when they are becoming vulnerable to potential fatigue-triggered injuries, and propose optimal resting cycles.

Semi-autonomous wool handling system: A three-year AWI-funded project to design, build and test components of a semi-autonomous wool handling system is being undertaken by the UTS Faculty of Engineering and IT. The project aims to cover the steps from the wool table through to baling.

This article appeared in the June 2022 edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine. Reproduction of the article is encouraged.