Working Smarter & Safer with New Cattle Yards at Brackenfield Angus

For Brackenfield Angus in Seddon, Marlborough, improving efficiency and cattle yard safety has been a major focus. Third-generation farmer Angus Peter recently upgraded from ageing wooden yards to a modern Te Pari Cattle Yard system, and the impact on daily work — and family safety — has been significant.

Located at the bottom of the Awatere Valley, Brackenfield Angus is a diverse operation with sheep, cattle, and vineyard blocks. With the previous sheep and cattle yards sitting in the middle of vineyard rows, access had become a challenge. The old wooden yards were small, difficult to work stock through, and no longer fit for purpose. It was time for a smarter and safer upgrade.

Building Safer, More User-Friendly Cattle Yards

Angus and his partner Ashley farm alongside their four children; Elsie, Ailey, Tilly, and Harry, plus extended family involved in the business. With kids regularly present around the yards, ensuring cattle yard safety was essential.

The new setup includes a designated cattle-free zone and the Lenta Squeeze Crush, which provides secure handling for operations like AI, freeze branding, and bull scanning. The ability to safely restrain cattle has made every job faster and far safer for everyone involved.

“We just completed our second lot of weaning in our Te Pari yards. We are really wrapped with them, the ease of flow of stock is amazing, and the animals run through perfectly.”
Angus Peter, Brackenfield Angus

Why Brackenfield Angus Chose Te Pari Cattle Yards

Angus explains that after speaking with several people at Te Pari, the decision became clear.

“We really enjoyed what we were getting out of them, the design features and the support. We were ringing Matt quite regularly, and it was awesome to have that help at the end of the phone.”

Hearing positive feedback from other farmers using Te Pari Cattle Yards reinforced the choice as well.

The team ultimately selected the SY119 yard design, chosen to suit their cattle numbers without going too large, allowing room for surrounding holding paddocks that increase overall yard functionality.

Making Daily Cattle Work Easier

One of the biggest advantages of the new Cattle Yards has been stock flow and handler convenience.

“The walkthrough gates took a bit to get used to after our old wooden yards where we were jumping over rails. But in these new yards, the gates are placed so well that it’s a pleasure to move around.”

The yards are designed so staff can work inside or outside the race depending on stock temperament — a feature that has improved both efficiency and cattle yard safety.

“Once the cows get used to them, they’re amazing compared to our old setups.” 

A Safer Space for Kids and Family

With four young children often around the yards, safety was non-negotiable.

“The safety features of the Te Pari yards are really good. Before, we were always yelling at the kids to stay up on the catwalk or out of the way. Now, we feel confident the kids have plenty of room and can be around safely.”

The yard design features a cattle-free working area that’s a safe space for family, staff and also storing equipment away from animals, a major improvement for a busy family farm.

A Yard System Built for the Future

Angus credits Te Pari’s team, especially Matt and Steven, for their support throughout the process.

“We would definitely recommend Te Pari to anyone looking for a new yard design. They’ve got plenty of options, and they can customise anything. Matt comes out with ideas that you don’t normally think of as a farmer, it really gets you thinking about the best layout.”

The result is a safer, more efficient, and future-proof handling system that has transformed how Brackenfield Angus works cattle.

Watch the video from Angus Peters