Pigtail standards made to last
Feedback from farmers highlighted frustration at the time and cost involved in frequently replacing failed pigtail posts.
Research and development by Strainrite has resulted in the company's Tangle Free Hotpost.
Primarily used to hold a herd of cattle in a break-feed crop, the shaft of the pigtail stake is electrified using an insulator just above ground level instead of at the pigtail end, which helps deter more boisterous bovines from pushing over the fence to get to the rest of the crop.
Ease of use is ensured by an insulated hand grip just below the pigtail – none of the protruding handle seen in the previous design – which helps reduce the tendency of shafts to tangle.
The shaft of the Hotpost is manufactured from high strength, bend resistant galvanised spring steel, and uses the galvanised steel foot proven on the company's popular gold foot post; it is said to offer superior strength and excellent ground holding characteristics.
The new post also has an integral, formed spring steel pigtail that carries no risk of poly-wire or tape cutting through plastic coatings and causing electrical shorts.
Dairy farmer Alf Teasdale, who has used the posts with conventional pigtail standards for years, comments "getting supplementary feeding wrong can be disastrous to a cow's health, but these new standards reduce the potential for breakouts and are quickly respected by stock".
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
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Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
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Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.