Vetmarker Instruction Manual
Vetmaker Lamb Handling Chute
The Vetmarker is a lamb handling chute that tips lambs on their feet when they are released. Lambs are loaded into the Vetmarker where ear marking, vaccinating, castration, drenching and other animal husbandry tasks are done with ease from either side of the chute.
The straight rollers, in a deep V, hold the lambs in securely and the steel tray between the rollers prevent the lambs getting their legs stuck. At the base of the Vetmarker, the tail is removed and the lamb is automatically sprayed for fly strike on release if required. The lamb lands on its feet and walks away.
Operation Instructions
The Vetmarker self locks onto the top rail of your lamb catching pen. The height at the other end of the Vetmarker Chute can be adjusted to suit the person tailing.
One person loads the lambs into the Vetmarker. Your animal health requirements can be performed from either side of the Vetmarker. It may be vaccinating, castrating, drenching, ear marking, ear tagging, docking, tailing or weighing if you have the Vetmarker Weigh Attachment.
When the lamb is released it can be automatically sprayed for fly strike if required.
There is no need to pull the lamb from the chute, as the release system allows the lamb to be released onto it’s feet.
Vetmarker Assembly Instructions
What's in the box?
Tools required for assembly
The parts listed above come in a box and need to be assembled. You’ll need the following tools:
- 19mm spanner and socket
- 24mm spanner and socket
- Knife to cut cable ties
- 13mm spanners
Caution: Some parts are heavy and require a two person lift.
Unbox and unpack your parts
With 2 people lift the Vetmarker out of the box and sit it on a level surface. Sitting it on a table or saw horses will make assembly easier with it being at a comfortable working height compared to on the ground.
Attach tipping handle
Loosen off the bolts on the tipping handle mounting bracket with 24mm spanners. You can take one of the blue rollers out to make this easier.
Fit the tipping handle spring
- Find the large spring that will be packed in the bag with the spray kit.
- Fit the spring onto the lower release handle bracket and top of the vetmarker frame as shown.
Bolt on the tipping handle
- Take the bolts and 1 washer off the release handle, set aside.
- Line up the handle to the bolt holes in the linkage on the release end.
- Put the washers and bolts on to hold it in place. Don’t over tighten, it needs to be able to move.
- Cut the cable tie on the opposite side of the chute and test your release handle to check it works.
- Put your roller back in.
Attach upright outside support arm
- Remove the nuts and washers off the 4 bolts at the bottom end of the Outside Support Arm.
- Hold the arm upright so that the arm sits out over the chute and line up the bolts with the holes in the mounting plate on the side of the chute frame.
- Put the washers and nuts back on.
- Remove the nuts and washers from the top two bolts in the Outside Support Arm.
Attach the top arm with springs
- Line up the holes in the Top Arm with Springs with the bolts on the Outside Support Arm.
- Put the washers on and tighten the nuts to secure it in place.
- Take off the nuts and washers on the bottom of the Top Arm. The Lamb Guide Rail will attach to these bolts.
Attach the Lamb Guide Rails
- Pick up your Lamb Guide Rails and line it up with the bolts on the Top Arm with Springs.
- Put the washers on and tighten the nuts to secure it in place with 13mm spanners.
Put the legs down
- To put the Vetmarkers legs down, loosen the bolts holding them on both sides of the chute.
- You’ll need someone to hold the Vetmarker while you lower the legs and secure them.
- The height of the legs is adjustable so just tighten the bolts once you have them at the length you want.
Spray Kit Assembly Instructions
Identify the Spray Kit parts
Open the plastic bag with your spray kit, it should contain:
- 2x pieces of blue hose, one long, one short
- Spray gun
- 2x cable ties
- Hose spring
- 4x Hose Clamps
- Spray Nozzle parts (tip, nut & connection)
Assemble the Spray Nozzle
The Nozzle Tip fits into the Nozzle Nut, hold these 2 parts together underneath the spray nozzle mount on the Vetmarker and then screw the connection on top to hold it in place.
Attach the nozzle hose
- Tighten the Nozzle Nut but leave it slightly loose until you’ve got your hose attached.
- Pick up the short piece of hose and push it onto the end of the Nozzle Connection. It will make fitting easier if you put the end of the hose into some hot water so soften it.
Hose clamps and hose spring
- Put a hose clamp over the hose where it connects to the nozzle connection.
- Put the hose spring over the hose and then the 2nd hose clamp.
- Then bend the hose to fit it onto the steel spray line. Using some hot water so soften the end of the hose will make this easier to fit.
- Turn the nozzle to ensure that it’s straight and tighten the hose clamps.
Attach the Spray Gun
- Undo and remove the four 8mm nuts, washers and inside bracket at the back of the Spray Gun Mounting Plate.
- Position the Spray Gun with the front bolts between the gun trigger and the handle.
Check spray gun position
- The orange trigger handler should be facing the front of the chute, away from the spray nozzle assembly.
- The steel “T” bolt should sit on the trigger, this is what will push the trigger.
- Put the inside bracket, washers and nuts back on to secure the spray gun in place.
Attach the Spray Hose
- The longer piece of spray hose connects to the end of the spray gun. Dip the end of the hose in some hot water and push it onto the end of the gun.
- Put another hose clamp on this connection and tighten it up.
Cable tie the hose
- Put the other end of the hose through the Vetmarker framing and cable tie it the bottom frame on the tipper end. This keeps it out of the way of the other parts.
Fit hose to steel spray line
- Put a hose clamp on the hose ready for the next connection.
- Bend the hose up and fit it onto the steel spray line. Use some hot water to soften the end of the hose to make this easier to fit.
- Tighten up the hose clamp over the hose and steel spray line connection.
- You can attach a hose from your drench pack to the end of your spray gun when you’re ready to use it.
Tips & Recommendations
• Always hand prime the drench gun before use to ensure there’s no air locks in the line.
• Always maintain the drench gun.
• Load the Vetmarker with even size lambs to ensure the guide rails fit evenly.
• Earmark at the loading end of the cradle.
• Apply scabby mouth vaccine near the tailing area.
• Always wear protective clothing if spraying.
• Clean and lubricate the Vetmarker at the end of the marking season. Keep a spare release spring in your tool box.
• Solvent based chemicals may damage rollers. Steel rollers are recommended for use with solvent chemicals.
How to remove rollers
To pull out rollers, reach underneath and pull out the pin. It comes out about 1cm.
Steel rollers are an option available for people who use solvent based chemicals.
Gap between main frame and release end
After a period of time, this slide bolt may need adjusting to compensate for wear in the linkages.
The bolt only requires adjustment of a few millimetres in the direction of the arrow. Take off the spring, pull handle forward, loosen slide bolt and slide in direction of arrow a few millimetres.
Tighten up and test.
Drench gun return bungee cord
If you are working in heavy conditions it may help to use a bungee cord to ensure the handle comes back every time.
Attach the cord to the handle of the drench gun and pull cord along and attach other end to part of main frame.
Drench Gun Set Up
Always hand-prime the drench gun to start. This will ensure that there is no air in the line. If there is air in the line, the lambs will not be getting the full application of fly strike spray. Hand priming the drench gun will also make you aware of other issues that may arise such as:
- Dirty water or tubing
- Frost damage or blockage
- Dirt in the nozzle
- Chemicals which have crystallized
- Sticky drench gun valve
- Other contaminants blocking the line, drench gun or nozzle.
It is necessary to hand prime the drench gun again after shifting sites or replacing the drum of fly strike chemical.
IMPORTANT:
It is essential that the drench gun is set up properly and that the drench gun and hoses are well maintained.
Spray Unit Operation
The spray unit works on a full stroke. Once the handle is unlocked the spray automatically activates during the release of the lamb.
The speed the handle is pulled dictates the area the spray covers. A slow release will cover mainly the crutch area. The faster speed will cover from the crutch and over the rump.
Example of spray coverage
There are variables that affect the spray area covered such as the lamb size and chemical used. The best operation is to pull the handle on a continuous full stroke.
Setting Spray Dose Rate
Start by setting the drench gun at 20mls.
Set a 20ml dose rate
- For a dose rate of 20mls, locate the slide bolt to nearly the top of the slot. Set the T-Bar firmly against the drench gun handle when set at 20mls and tighten the T-Bar lock nuts as shown below.
- Test by pulling the release handle.
Set a 10ml dose rate
- To achieve a 10ml dose DO NOT adjust the T-Bar. Position the slide bolt at the bottom of the slot. This will adjust the gun to set on 15 and stop at 5.
- The dose rate for spray is adjusted with this slot. Near the top is 20mls. At the bottom is 10mls.
- For a rate lower than 10mls, lock the drench gun handle at the 10ml position, in this set up and back off the T-Bar.
T-bar sits firmly against gun trigger
- Ensure the T-Bar is firmly against the drench gun trigger and tighten nuts once you have set the dose rate.
Double Spray System Set Up
The Double Spray System is an option that can be added for farmers, particularly those who use rubber rings or merino sheep where spray is required in the shoulder area. It is essential to increase the spray rate to penetrate both areas. Please call Te Pari for more information.
Connect the three spray hoses
Join the three lengths of hose together with the brass T-Nozzle and tighten with hose clips.
Attach hose to drench gun and spray nozzle
Join the hose to the drench gun and spray nozzle. Cable tie onto frame.
Bottom spray nozzle
The picture shown is for farmers using rubber rings. If you are doing the merino spray the hose will go to the nozzle set up in the main part of the Vetmarker.
Merino spray nozzle set up
The spray nozzle for Merino is set into the channel on the main frame of the Vetmarker.
The hose is attached from underneath as shown. The spray reaches the purse and shoulder areas.
Example of double spray set up
The picture here shows how the double spray system will work once installed. Please call Te Pari for assistance installing the double spray system.
Spare Parts Available
Spare parts are available, please contact your nearest Te Pari branch for servicing and more information.
