Following on from a very successful 2018 where it won the Henty Machinery Field Days Agri Innovators Award and an Australian National Field Days NAB Agribusiness Award of Excellence, The Shepherd Auto Sheep Feeder is set to continue growing in popularity this year.
An auto sheep feeder designed for feedlots and use in the paddock, The Shepherd is designed to deliver a controlled ration at preset times.
Inventor of The Shepherd, Justin Dunn saw a practical need for his machine which he developed on his own 1000-head Aussie Whites lamb feedlot at Thunder Valley, NSW.
“Using The Shepherd produces a significant conservation of grain,” Mr Dunn said.
“It has a marked reduction on labour costs and saves time.
“The Shepherd truly is automated – you fill the bin, set the scheduled feeding times and leave it.”
Coming in a range of models from the S600, which caters for 50 to 60 ewes, to the S1800 which feeds a mob of 180, according to Mr Dunn The Shepherd provides a producer with ‘more control over induction and the production feeding of lambs.’
“The long tray on The Shepherd allows more heads at the trough,” he said.
“The 18 metre tray enables 180 head to all be fed at once.
“We have models up to 20 metres long with the trough designed with adjustable brackets which can provide a greater volume of feed.
“Completely solar powered, The Shepherd saves valuable time with farmers not required to re-fill generators to run it.”
While there are obvious benefits to using The Shepherd in a feedlot, it is also very well suited to use in the paddock.
“The Shepherd can also be used for supplement feeding,” Mr Dunn said.
“It delivers a controlled ration and eliminates any need for trail feeding, providing a significant benefit as grain is so expensive.
“It is not viable to put lick feeders out in the paddock and give the sheep unlimited access.”
Principal at Ariah Park High School, Mr Dunn does not have the time to use on feeding feedlot as well as run a cattle and cropping operation as well.
“While I am away at work, I schedule feeding times feeding times to 9am and 3.30pm and leave it,” Mr Dunn said.
“The friendly interface allows producers to program the time and quantity of feed used each day.”
- Visit: www.thundervalley.com.au.