Sheep handler use leads to less product waste, better operator health
Emily Stretch farms in south-west Kojonup with her father Digby and mother Nikki. Their farm has a total area of 3500ha and covers three properties. They run between 10 000 – 12 000 Merino sheep per year.
Using a sheep handler reduced the physical demands of working with sheep and increased the precision of animal health treatments such as vaccinating and drenching. There was also a benefit in completing multiple husbandry tasks in one pass.
It was difficult to quantify the benefits of the sheep handler in economic terms. There were numerous benefits that were documented such as improved occupational health and safety, reduced fatigue and increased operator comfort.
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