It’s this need for better use of time on farm that has seen Peak Hill Industries’ Immobilizer – launched at the 2010 Hamilton Sheepvention in Victoria – quickly attract a strong following.

“Why we developed it was (because) people were coming back to us about our old V machine, which (particularly where growers had switched from Merinos to Dorpers) had heep getting out of it,” said Peak Hill Industries’ owner Bill Byrne.

From this, he saw a need to improve the old machine – and the Immobilizer was the result.

It has two large adjustable rubber pads which hold the sheep and an electric eye which detects the sheep and triggers the rubber pads to close.

“That pressure can be adjusted so you can use the pressure you like to grab the sheep,” Mr Byrne said.

The two rubber pads hold the sheep immobile while husbandry practices are conducted.

Options which can be added include a crutching module that allows the operator to access the rear of the unit to crutch the sheep and attaches to the entry end of the machine.

“This can be bought with the machine or added later if they want,” Mr Byrne said.

Weigh bars could also be added, but the machine is designed to fit most off-the-shelf weigh systems, Mr Byrne said.

These units needed a good lead-in race to help sheep flow and a small ramp leading up into the Immobilizer entrance.

“We can add drafting gates as well so you can draft as you’re going,” he said.

Immobilizers were modular units, so could be dismantled easily for transport, or could be bought with a purpose built trailer, Mr Byrne said.

The tension of the rubber pads was also adjustable to suit pregnant ewes, lambs or mature rams and the machines’ sides could be adjusted for height and width.