Double the Racewells, Double the Results

How One NSW Farmer Streamlined Sheep Handling Across Two Properties

Adam Norrie farms with his wife and parents in the Eugowra-Gooloogong district of New South Wales, Australia. A mixed farming operation, they run around 5,000 first-cross ewes joined with Dorset rams to produce second-cross lambs. The farm covers two properties, with five sets of yards between them.

From Manual Weighing to Smart Sheep Handling Technology

Recently, they’ve been targeting more over-the-hook trading and need to meet their grid to get the best deal. This meant making some changes.

“We’ve always had just a single action, non-drafting weigh box that we used to get an idea of the lambs' weight,” explains Adam. “But it was slow and cumbersome, so we borrowed a Te Pari Sheep Handler from a friend who had just bought one.”

We might owe Adam’s friend a favour because after trialling a Te Pari Racewell HD4, Adam went out and bought his own.

Why the Trailer-Mounted Racewell Was a Game Changer

“I absolutely loved it and bought one on a trailer unit to begin with.”
The plan was to use it across the five yards, which is exactly why the trailer system was designed. It features a retractable drawbar, removable wheels and a fold-down platform, making it quick and easy to transport between yards. If it needs to go off-farm and be driven down the road to a neighbouring property, that can be done too.

Upgrading to a Second Racewell for Even Greater Efficiency

After 12 months of using the Racewell, Adam was convinced enough to come back and get another.

“I bought a second unit for one of the main sets of yards at the property. The major thing we use it for is weighing, but we’ve done a lot of crutching through our unit, especially market crutching lambs prior to sale.”

Accurate Sheep Weighing Made Simple with Tru-Test Integration

The weighing process is made as simple and easy as it really should be, starting with the easy-entry lead-up race and an automatic anti-backing bar. This engages automatically when an animal enters the race and prevents them backing up.

The side panels can be angled to create a narrower gap at the bottom, then angle out on a diagonal for more room towards the top of the lead-up. There’s plenty of room for animals, but the angled design stops them from turning around in the lead-up. The size of the gap can be adjusted too, so the same anti-turning design works for everything from young lambs to fully grown sheep in need of a trim.

Adam’s setup uses the integrated weigh scales in conjunction with Tru-Test indicators, with the display sitting in the specially designed scale indicator mounting area at the top of the lead-up.

“You can set the parameters to draft into any sort of weight categories you’re after. It’s given us information now, that we didn't previously have, in terms of making marketing decisions going forward.”

Using Data to Drive Better Sheep Marketing Decisions

That could be the clincher right there—the ability to use data to make the most of the flock and maximise revenue. The EID tag reader can also help keep track of treatments administered, as well as track weight. The reader itself is barely noticeable, with the antenna on the side panel offering good range and great reliability.

Smarter Sheep Drafting with Auto and Manual Options

As for sorting, that can be done automatically too. The Racewell uses special sensors to sort animals through 4 gates, with the criteria modifiable to suit the farm’s specific needs. When manual sorting is necessary, there’s the option to do it from the dashboard or using the remote control. Both methods are fast and easy.

Designed for Easy Crutching and Comfortable Access

Going back to the crutching Adam mentioned, the design of the Racewell makes that easy.

“I love the flip-open back gate and also the drop-down flap on the rear of it,” he says.

We’ve designed the whole handling section around the way farmers actually work, with nothing getting in the way. For example, the clamp area has unobstructed access to the top of the animal, making it easy to apply treatments or ear tags.

Sheep Handling with Comfort and Control

As the animal enters the handling section, the automatic clamp holds them gently but firmly in place. They are adjustable, and the pressure can be increased or decreased to suit your needs.

If you want to let some animals through and not clamp everyone, then using the dashboard, foot pedal or remote control gives you manual control. From there, the side tilt will tilt the animal up to 90 degrees (you can choose the angle), then front and rear access flaps allow you to go to work where you need to.

“I just crutch them standing up from above, but for real dirty ones, I’ll quite often flip them over on the side to get a better crutch on them,” says Adam.

Reliable Support and Backup Service from Te Pari

We’ve always believed purchasing a Te Pari product is the start of a relationship, not the end. Luckily, Adam seems to agree.

“One of the biggest positives with the Te Pari system has been the backup service we’ve had from them, right from day dot. Scott has answered his phone at some crazy times to fix some of my mistakes… and within 5 minutes, he’s got us back up and running again.”

Aside from the odd bit of operator error, the truth is there’s not much that goes wrong with the Te Pari Racewell HD4. They’re made to be worked and to last.

It’s not just about them ‘working’ though—it’s about how they work. They’re gentle on the animals and reduce physical strain on the farmer.

“Even as we use them going forward, there’s little features in the machine that we didn’t realise were there, that are very well thought out,” offers Adam.

Final Verdict: “We Bought One… Then Bought Another”

“We bought the first one and were so impressed with it, and found we were using it more and more, we ended up buying a second one to speed up our operations. We’re always using the machine—it’s an impressive bit of gear and when it comes to sheep handling, I couldn’t recommend Te Pari highly enough.”

We certainly appreciate Adam’s recommendation, especially because it’s not a one-off. With two Racewells, we’ve had the chance to impress him twice—and it’s pleasing to have done so.

Watch the video from Adam Norrie