Hot to crutch sheep the easy way

Crutching sheep involves removing wool from around the tail and back legs. It is an important job to prevent flystrike and keep your flock clean and healthy. Traditionally, it’s tough, physical work. Holding each sheep while using a handpiece to trim away the wool can be hard on your body after a long day in the yards. But there’s a much easier way to do it.

How the Racewell Sheep Handler Makes Crutching Easier

The Racewell Sheep Handler takes the hard work out of crutching, drenching, foot trimming, and tagging. The system automatically catches each sheep and holds it securely while you do the job, then releases it with the press of a button.

For a quick tidy-up or light dagging, you can simply swing the rear gate out of the way and access the back end of the sheep while it’s standing. This setup is ideal for cleaning up dags on sheep that only need a touch-up.

For dirtier sheep or when you want more comfort, tilt the sheep over onto its side. Racewell Handlers can be fitted with an optional rear access flap, which opens up the back section of the clamp to give you full access for crutching or footwork. With this flap open you can crutch sheep right up the belly which is perfect for preparing lambs for the abattoir and getting premium prices.

Farmer Testimonial: Bud Hewitt, Pahiatua, NZ

“We upgraded to the new Racewell with the access flaps—now I can belly lambs and trim feet if I need to. The biggest benefit for me was saving my body. By the end of a day drenching or dagging in the race, my hips were giving me grief. With the Racewell I can walk away at the end of the day feeling fine.”

Bud Hewitt, Pahiatua NZ

Watch Bud’s video testimonial!  

Mobile Sheep Handling Options for Crutching

Many farms have more than one sheep yards or have more than one farm so having a mobile sheep handler is a big advantage.

Racewell Sheep Handlers are available with 2 options to make transporting them around your farm easier. 

• Skid frame: a strong sub-frame that has fork slots in it, allowing you to easily move the unit around your farm with your tractor forks.
• Trailer option: Designed for farms with multiple sites or where you need to travel by road. The trailer comes with road-ready wheels, a hitch, and optional features like a jockey wheel, mudguards, and lights. The hydraulic lift makes setup and pack-down quick and easy.

The Racewell system can be used anywhere—from your main yards to a paddock setup with portable yards—for crutching, weighing, or drenching mobs of lambs.

Why use a sheep handler for crutching sheep?

The Racewell Sheep Handler is one of the best pieces of sheep handling equipment for crutching sheep quickly and safely.

Using a Racewell Sheep Handler offers big benefits on-farm:

• Reduces strain on your hips, knees, and back
• Minimises physical effort and fatigue
• Makes crutching faster, safer, and easier

Amanda from Metcalfe, Victoria, uses a Racewell and says: 

“It’s taken the physicality out of sheep handling, I’m no longer stiff and sore after a day crutching or drenching in the yards. The sheep flow better now with the Racewell and I think they are far less stressed than they used to be.”

Watch Amanda’s video testimonial!