HYDRAULIC leg grabs designed to improve the safety of handlers and animals has received the innovation award at this year’s BeefEx conference.
The product, developed by southern Queensland manufacturers Thompson Longhorn, Goomburra, secures and contains beasts during the hoof trimming process, eliminating the need for other restraints such as ropes or chains.
The leg grabs may be integrated into a suitable existing crush or restrainer that allows animals to be tipped over, or used alongside a purpose-built Thompson Longhorn hydraulic tipping crush.
Director Byron Wolff said it was the first time the business had entered the competition, despite a long history of developing innovative products.
The team also entered its para-vee headbail, which combines the benefits of the parallel and vee headbails, enhancing safety in the feedlot.
Mr Wolff said only one set of hydraulic leg grabs was in operation, with a set being trialled at Mort & Co’s Grassdale feedlot for the past two months.
“The hydraulic leg grabs allow each beast to be checked over in a shortened amount of time, therefore creating capacity to inspect larger numbers and diagnose potential infections to the cattle industry,” he said.
“Not only doe the addition of this equipment increase the productivity of lot feeding environments, it also increases the safety of the work environment.”
The innovation award was sponsored by Integrated Animal Production.
