Invention's proving work-a-bull
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A Bulls farmer has designed a whole new outrigger for electric fences.
Roger Dalrymple's company Agbits is marketing the Hit-a-Bull system, frustrated after years of having stock or machinery hit and break nonpliable electric fence outriggers.
"There is nothing more annoying than looking for an electric fence short and finding a broken outrigger which is shorting the whole system. It means a lot of wasted time. I thought there must be a better system, and that led to the design of this."
Mr Dalrymple said stock don't choose to hit the electric fence, but can often be pushed into it by other cattle and break rigid outriggers as a result. You also get tractor drivers who are intent on getting as close as possible to fence lines, leaving a trail of destruction of broken or bent outriggers.
He is currently selling direct to farmers and fencing contractors from his Bulls home, because the new concept needs explaining which he is doing with the aid of a DVD. The first time someone sees an outrigger they don't even know what it is, but the DVD explains it all and is readily available to anyone interested.
"It's called Hit-a-Bull, like many businesses around here - a play on Bulls. But in the DVD I hit the outrigger with a batten to show how strong it is. Really, it is hitable."
The outriggers are made of high tensile galvanised wire with low density poly-ethylene insulators attached.
Mr Dalrymple has been busy getting the system ready for sale - the marketing, getting boxes made and the DVD.
He acknowledged enormous help from Bulls resident Harry Weir (Kiwitech), who he said has helped him with design and moulds for the outriggers.
"I think this will revolutionise electric fence outrigger systems. The outriggers should be flexible and farmers need to let the electricity do the talking to protect their fences."
It comes in three sizes, from a 300mm mount each side of the fence, up to 600mm.
Mr Dalrymple said his system is cost competitive. He said he has had only very positive feedback from those that have tried the new Hit-a- Bull system.
He said hill-country farmers have tried it, as well as those on intensive lowland systems. Those singing its praises on the DVD included some on neighbouring farms, who are using the system on a feed pad to reduce feed wastage at a very low cost.
He sees this as another promising future use for the outrigger.
Those that have tried it said using the fence system avoided feed wastage as the supplement fed out under the electric fence outriggers meant cattle did not sit or stand on feed, but had ready access to it.
Mr Dalrymple said the fence outriggers were not available in rural stores yet, although they are likely to be in the future, as word spreads about the new concept and farmers adopt the modern technology.
"I am already getting repeat orders from farmers which must be a good sign - it's now a case of marketing and matching the manufacturing with the demand".
- © Fairfax NZ News
