Gallagher Sheep Handler User manual

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GallagherSheepHandler–AutoWeighCrutchandDagManualV1.0Aug2012
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PUBLISHEDBY
GallagherAustraliaPTYLimited
14SomertonParkDrive,CampbellfieldVIC3061
www.gallagherams.com
Copyright©GallagherGroupLimited2012.
Allrightsreserved.PatentsPending.
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GallagherSheepHandler–AutoWeighCrutchandDagManual
Edition1.0‐August2012
DISCLAIMER:Whileeveryefforthasbeenmade
toensureaccuracy,neitherGallagherGroup
Limitednoranyemployeeofthecompany,shallbe
liableonanygroundwhatsoevertoanypartyin
respectofdecisionsoractionstheymaymakeasa
resultofusingthisinformation.
InaccordancewiththeGallagherpolicyof
continuingdevelopment,designandspecifications
aresubjecttochangewithoutnotice.
DevelopedandmanufacturedbyGallagherGroup
Limited,anISO9001:2000CertifiedSupplier.
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GallagherSheepHandler–AutoWeighCrutchandDagManualV1.0Aug2012
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TableofContents
Introduction.......................................................................................................4
WhatistheSheepHandler?...............................................................................4
BenefitsofusingtheSheepHandler..................................................................6
Scenariosforuse.................................................................................................8
Recommendationsfortheconstructionanduseofthe
surroundingyardsandraces...............................................................................9
Powerandcompressedairrequirements........................................................11
ScalesandRFIDreaderrequirements..............................................................12
PositioningtheSheepHandler..........................................................................12
AssemblingtheSheepHandlerforuse.............................................................13
IfTransportationKitisfitted.............................................................................13
Connectors........................................................................................................15
SettinguptheSheepHandlerforuse..............................................................16
Communications................................................................................................17
AdjustingtheSheepHandlerwidth...................................................................18
OperatingControls............................................................................................19
Pull/PushSwitches.............................................................................................22
UsingtheRemoteControl................................................................................23
UsingtheSheepHandler...................................................................................24
AutomaticReleaseMode..................................................................................25
ManualReleaseMode......................................................................................27
SwitchingbetweenModes...............................................................................29
SensorsandGates.............................................................................................29
CareandMaintenance.....................................................................................30
Warranty...........................................................................................................32
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GallagherSheepHandler–AutoWeighCrutchandDagManualV1.0Aug2012
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Introduction
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WelcometotheGallagherSheepHandler–AutoWeighCrutchandDagusermanual.This
manualrelatestomodelnumberSG05794.Inthismanualyouwillfindinstructionsonusing
theSheepHandleraswellashintstohelpyouresolveanyproblemsyoumayencounter.
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WhatistheSheepHandler?
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TheSheepHandlerisasheephandlingunitcontaininganintegratedweighingplatform,
catchandrolloverfunctionwhichwillconnectwithavarietyofweighscaleindicators.
Pneumaticallyoperatedgatesandclampsallowstocktobesecured,handledanddrafted.
Therollovermechanismallowsforcrutching,bellyandfootwork.Catchanddraftfunctions
caneitherbecontrolledautomatically,bysettingupconditionsintheweighscaleindicator,
ormanuallybythestockhandler.Apanelreadercanbeattachedtoallowreadingof
ElectronicID(EID)tags.
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Thedraftinggatesautomaticallydraftstockbasedoncriteriarecordedorweight.The
conditionsfordraftingaresetupintheweighscaleindicatorattachedtotheSheep
Handler.Draftingcanalsobecontrolledmanuallybytheoperator.TheSheepHandleris
easytotransportwithitsowntransportationkit(purchasedseparatelySG05795)andeasily
setupforuseandpackedupfortransport.
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TheSheepHandler’sextremelysturdyandstrongconstructionmakestheunitdurableand
longlastingandbecauseoftherubberwallsandflooryourstockaresaferfrompotential
harm.
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Insummary,TheSheepHandlerwithDraftingenablesyoutocarryoutarangeofactivities
including:
AutomaticElectronicID(EID)TagReading,Weighing,DraftingandwiththeClampand
Rolloverfunction:Dagging,Crutching,EyeWiggingandFootWork.TheSheepHandlercan
alsobepartiallyoperatedfromadistanceusingaremotecontrol.
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GallagherSheepHandler–AutoWeighCrutchandDagManualV1.0Aug2012
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ThedifferentpartsoftheSheepHandlerareshowninthediagrambelow:
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A.DraftingGates
B.MainClamp/Rollover
C.EntryGate
D.LeadupRace/RampClamp
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(Transportationkitnotdisplayed)
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D
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GallagherSheepHandler–AutoWeighCrutchandDagManualV1.0Aug2012
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BenefitsofusingtheSheepHandler
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ThebenefitsyouwillreceivefromusingtheSheepHandlerincludethefollowing:
•Savetimeandlabour
OnepersoncanoperatetheSheepHandlerusingtheremotecontrol.Thismeansthatyou
willstillbeincontrolofitsoperationwhileatadistance.Additionally,asyoucontrolthe
gatesbyusingtheremotecontrol(twowayonlystraightandleft),thephysicaldemandsof
operatinggates,particularlydraftinggates,isremoved.
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•Improveworkefficiency
Increasethespeedofavarietyofstockmanagementtasksandalsodraftingthroughputas
theprocesscanbeautomated.Thismeansstock(andpeople)spendlesstimeintheyards.
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•Decreasetheincidenceofinjuriesforstockandoperators
TheSheepHandler’ssolidmanufactureandrubberlinedwallsreducesthechanceofinjury
fromcollisionsorgeneralusage.Additionally,theunitholdssheepsecurereducingthe
handlingaspectandpotentialinjurytopersons.
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•Quietoperation
TheinnovativeconstructionoftheSheepHandlerandthepneumaticoperationmeansthat
itisexceptionallyquietwhenworking.Thisreducesthestressonyouandstock.Stockwill
flowbetterandwillentertheunitmorereadilyasaresult.
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•Carryoutseveralstockmanagementtasksatthesametime
TheSheepHandlerwithareadersetup(panelandreader)canautomaticallyreadEIDtags,
weighandthendraftwithoutyouhavingtocontrolit.Alloftheseactionscanbepre‐
programmedintoaweighscaleindicatorwhichwillcommunicatewiththeSheepHandler.
Thisgivesyouthefreedomtomoveawayfromtheweighinganddraftingarea,toorganise
stockatthesametimeastheseactionsareoccurring‐allwiththeabilitytostopandhold
ananimalatthepushofabuttonontheremote.
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GallagherSheepHandler–AutoWeighCrutchandDagManualV1.0Aug2012
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•Easyallocationanddraftingofstockintodifferentmanagementgroups
Providingyourbrandandmodelofweighscaleindicatorsupportsit,itisasimpleprocessto
allocateanimalsintogroupssothattheycanbemanagedseparately.Thiscouldinclude
suchthingsas:thedivisionintodifferentgroupsbyweighttoallowpriorityfeeding,orthe
draftingoutofeweswithmultiplepregnancies.
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•Improvestockflowthroughtheweighinganddraftingsystem
Asthereislesshumaninvolvementintheweighinganddraftingprocessstockfeelless
threatenedandmoreinclinedtomovefreelythroughthesystem.
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•Decreasedraftingandweighingoperatorerrorsandhitthecorrecttargetmarketweight
whendrafting
Astheweighinganddraftingprocessesareautomatedthereislesschanceoferror.In
addition,accurateweighinganddraftingensuresthatallstockfallintothecorrectgroupsto
ensuretheyachievepremiumpricesatsale.
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GallagherSheepHandler–AutoWeighCrutchandDagManualV1.0Aug2012
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Scenariosforuse
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TheflexiblenatureoftheSheepHandlerallowsyoutocarryoutmanyactivitiessimplyand
easily.Theseinclude:
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Automatically
•Weighinganimalsandreleasingthem,ordraftingthemusingtheweightgroupingsyou
havesetupinyourweighscaleindicator.
•ReadingEIDtagsandweighinganimals,thendraftingusingtheweightgroupingsyouhave
setupinyourweighscaleindicator(draftbyweight).
•ReadingEIDtagsthendraftingusingasetofconditionsyouhavesetupinyourweigh
scaleindicator(draftbylist)(therangeofoptionswillbedependentonthebrandand
modeloftheattachedweighscaleindicator).
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Manually
•ControllingthemovementsofanimalsoutoftheSheepHandleryourself.
•Overridinganautomaticsettingtoretainananimalintheunitsothatyoucanexamineit
forsomereason,ordraftitinadifferentdirectionfromtheautomaticsetting.
•Temporarilypauseanautomaticoperationsothatyoucanresolveissues.
•Secureanimalsfortagging,drenching,docking,daggingetc.
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GallagherSheepHandler–AutoWeighCrutchandDagManualV1.0Aug2012
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Recommendationsfortheconstructionanduseofthe
surroundingyardsandraces
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(adaptedfrom"BehaviouralPrinciplesofLivestockHandling"byTempleGrandin)
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RaceconstructionleadinguptotheSheepHandler
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Sides
Sheephaveawidevisualfield.Thewidthisaffectedbytheamountofwooltheyhaveon
theirheadandrangesfrom191to306degrees.Anyhandlingraces,includingtherace
leadinguptotheSheepHandler,shouldhavesolidsidewallstopreventanimalsfrom
seeingdistractionsoutsidetherace.Anymovingobjects,(e.g.people,flappingobjectsora
coathungonaracefence)seenthroughthesidesofaracecancausebalkingorfrighten
sheep.Solidsidewallsareespeciallyimportantifanimalsareunaccustomedtothe
facility.
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Layout
CurvedsinglefileracesarerecommendedformovingsheepuptotheSheepHandler.A
curvedraceismoreefficientfortworeasons.Firstly,itpreventstheanimalfromseeing
whatisattheotherendoftheraceuntilitisalmostthere.Secondly,ittakesadvantageof
thenaturaltendencyofsheeptocirclearoundahandlermovingalongtheinnerradiusof
therace.
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Width
Ideallytheracewillbedesignedinawaythatorganisessheepintosinglefilebythetime
theyreachthejunctionwiththeSheepHandler.Thishelpstoensurethatonlyonesheep
enterstheSheepHandleratatimeandmakesstockflowsmoother.Assheepcanbeof
varyingsizes,(e.g.adultsheepandlambs),itisusefultohavearacewithadjustablesidesin
thefinalleadup(thelast180cm).Howeveriftheracewidthisfixed,approximately50cmis
therecommendedwidth.ThisisthesamedimensionastheinternaledgeoftheSheep
Handlerentrygatesurround.
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GallagherSheepHandler–AutoWeighCrutchandDagManualV1.0Aug2012
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10
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Materials
Thematerialsthesurroundingracesaremadeofhavethepotentialtoaffectthereliability
oftheRFIDreader.Metalcomponentsarebestavoidedifpossible,particularlyiftheyrub
together,asthiscancauseinterferenceinthesignalbetweenthereaderandtheEIDtag.
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Visionandlighting
WheretheSheepHandlerispositionedilluminationshouldbeuniformanddiffuse,much
likeabrightcloudyday.Shadowsandbrightspotsshouldbeminimised.Sheephavea
tendencytomovefromdimareastobrighterareas,providedthelightisnotglaringintheir
eyes.SituatetheSheepHandlertotakeadvantageofnaturallight.Skylights,combinedwith
othernaturallighting,canevenoutlightlevelssoconsiderinstallingtranslucent
polycarbonateroofingandorwallsiftheareaisdark.
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Noise
Infacilitieswherelivestockarehandled,loudornovelnoisesshouldbeavoidedbecause
theydistresslivestock.Thesoundofmetalclashingtogethercancausebalkingand
agitation.AstheSheepHandlerisconstructedandlinedtoensureitsoperationisveryquiet
butthenoiselevelinthesurroundingyardsshouldbeconsidered.Thecompressor
providingairfortheSheepHandlerisbestlocatedatadistancetoreducenoiselevels.
RubberstopsongatesintheyardsaroundtheSheepHandlerwillhelpreducenoise.
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Theeffectsofpainorfright
Researchindicatesthatsheepcanrememberapainfulorfrighteningexperienceformany
months.ThefactthattheSheepHandlerhasbeendesignedwiththecomfortandsafetyof
stockinmindwillhelptoensureanimals'experienceispositive.Thiswillaidinthesmooth
entryandflowofstockthroughthesystemonfutureoccasions.Itisalsoworthwhile
keepinginmindthatlivestockwhichhavehadgentlehandlinginthepastwillbeless
stressedwhentheyarehandledinthefuture.Thinkabouthowyouractionswillaffectyour
futureinteractionswithstockandtheefficiencyoftheoperationsyouwishtocarryout.
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