Viewfield Romneys use Racewell for smarter sheep management
25 February 2026
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By Aimee Johnston
For Murphy and Marcus Maxwell of Viewfield Romneys in southwest Scotland, better sheep handling is no longer just about moving stock efficiently, it’s about capturing data that drives smarter farm decisions.
After upgrading to a new Racewell Series 2 Sheep Handler integrated with the Te Pari Macrostock Scale System, the Maxwells are using sheep scales and performance data to transform how they manage lamb growth, pasture performance, and marketing decisions.
Sheep Scales Give Us More Information
“We’ve been farming here since 1963,” says Murphy Maxwell. “And the key to successful farming is the more you record, the more you understand, and the more you can plan and improve things. The Te Pari system helps us do that.”
The family has been running Romneys for nearly 30 years, with genetics originally sourced from New Zealand. Today, they sell sheep throughout the UK and Europe, supplying markets in France and Ireland.
They first invested in a Racewell Sheep Handler 25 years ago. While it was a reliable machine, upgrading to the new Series 2 Racewell has brought a significant leap forward in both sheep handling efficiency and data capability.
Modern Sheep Handling Designed for Ease and Longevity
The Series 2 Racewell offers improved functionality for everyday tasks including crutching, vaccinating and drenching. With front and rear access flaps, foot pedal controls, and smoother operation, the system makes sheep handling faster and less physically demanding.
“The new Te Pari just seems so much quieter and easier to use,” Murphy explains. “Even Dad can use it, and he’s not very good with technology.”
For a business that can run 4,000–6,000 sheep through the system in just a couple of days, reliability and ease of use are critical.
“You’re not fighting sheep anymore. The machine takes the strain, and that extends your farming life.”
Reducing physical pressure on shoulders, knees and backs has been a major benefit for multiple generations working together on the farm.
Moving Beyond Basic Sheep Scales
Where the biggest difference lies, however, is in the integration of sheep scales with the Macrostock recording system.
The Maxwells moved away from a Tru-Test weigh head to the Te Pari Macrostock Scale System, and that’s where sheep scales became a management tool rather than just a weighing device.
“The tablet is a lot easier to use,” Murphy says. “You can go onto your Macrostock homepage at the end of the day and see exactly how your lambs, ewes and tups are performing.”
The system allows them to:
- Record and store weight data instantly
- View performance statistics while weighing
- Analyse averages per drafting gate
- Track lambs’ daily live weight gain in real time
“It’s very easy to use. If you can work an iPhone, you can work the tablet.”
Tracking Lambs’ Daily Live Weight Gain
By regularly running lambs across the sheep scales, the Maxwells can clearly monitor growth performance.
“The lambs we were recording today are putting on about 500 grams a day. The top ones are just short of 700 grams,” Murphy explains.
Tracking lambs’ daily live weight gain allows them to:
- Identify high-performing grazing paddocks
- Spot underperforming fields early
- Adjust fertiliser, lime and soil management
- Predict finishing dates more accurately
“We know what fields are performing well and what fields aren’t. We can sit down and decide where to add lime, fertiliser or muck. So we’re improving soil structure as well, just by using the Macrostock Scale.”
The data gathered through sheep scales isn’t just about the animals, it informs whole-farm management decisions.
Planning Sales Weeks in Advance
One of the most valuable advantages has been forward planning.
“At the end of each session, I take a photo of the results with the date and time,” Murphy says. “Then I’ve got it for telling our stock agent when to book lambs in.”
Instead of rushing to secure processing slots at the last minute, the Maxwells can now:
- Predict when lambs will hit target weights
- Book abattoir slots one to two weeks in advance
- Reduce marketing stress
- Avoid missed premiums
“If the lambs are gaining weight like this, we can think two weeks ahead instead of panicking a week before.”
That level of confidence comes directly from consistently tracking lambs’ daily live weight gain using accurate sheep scales.
More Than Just Weighing and Sorting
The Maxwells emphasise that the system is more than a sheep handling or sheep-sorting solution.
“There’s the whole Macrostock scale recording and information system as well. The more you use it, the more you record, the more you get out of it.”
They also highlight the importance of strong technical backup.
“We certainly like to question and push to get as much as we can out of the system and Te Pari are very good. If they don’t have an answer straight away, they’ll find one quickly.”
Reducing Stress for Sheep and Farmers
The upgraded sheep handling system has improved not only performance monitoring, but also stock welfare.
“Livestock seem to like running through it,” Murphy says. “It takes the stress out of the livestock, and it takes the stress out of the farmer.”
With quieter operation and smoother handling, the Series II Racewell Sheep Handler promotes better flow and calmer sheep movement.
A Smarter Way to Manage a Sheep Enterprise
For Viewfield Romneys, integrating advanced sheep scales with a modern sheep handling system has delivered measurable gains:
- Accurate tracking of lambs’ daily live weight gain
- Improved pasture and soil management decisions
- Earlier marketing planning
- Reduced physical strain
- Better livestock flow and reduced stress
“We were very impressed with the original Racewell,” Murphy concludes. “But the new Te Pari Series II handler is a far superior machine. It’s robust, reliable, and makes life easier, and possibly more profitable.”
By combining efficient sheep handling with powerful data from integrated sheep scales, the Maxwells are proving that informed decisions lead to stronger performance — both in the paddock and in the marketplace.
