LOCAL FARMER LAUNCHES UNIQUE SERVICE TO MAKE FARMING EASIER AND SAFER

36 yr old Andrew Mear from Raglan, Monmouthshire has taken the bull by the horns, quite literally and is launching a unique and innovative service to take the pain and strain out of cattle handling for farmers across Wales.

Andrew, who was born and bred on a farm in Caerleon and has worked across the UK, has settled back in South Wales with his wife and children and came up with the innovative idea whilst working on a local farm last summer.

“I have spent a lifetime of working with cattle using old antiquated handling systems that are at best inadequate and at worst dangerous. As I helped a farmer do Blue Tongue vaccinations, running cattle behind gates tied with bailer twine I couldn’t help thinking there must be a better way - and I came up with this idea – a fully portable system of corral and race, running into a top-notch squeeze crush.!

He continues “I’d spent some time out in Alberta, Canada where I’d seen something similar but never seen something over here. I did lots of research and spoke to lots of people who thought it sounded great, so despite the recession, I decided to take a calculated risk and set up on my own portable cattle handling service.”

“The kit itself is imported from America and is designed to take bison, so it’s pretty solid! It’s a full handling system including a Pearson Squeeze crush, race system and holding pen. I’ve designed it to be safe, practical and portable so that I can share my innovation with as many farmers as possible and make their lives a whole lot easier!”

Andrew, who launched the product at the Royal Welsh Show, believes he’s the only person in Wales, if not the UK to offer such a service and says it’s also designed to make famers lives safer.

Over 835 people have been injured since January 2000 whilst handling cattle on farms and his crush is an ideal piece of equipment to help hold cattle – everything from a calf to a bison – whilst either TB testing, belly clipping, foot trimming and the like.

“Because it’s flexible and will fit on the back of my pick up it’s the ideal piece of kit for farmers who’ve got cattle away. I can drive to where they are and all the services can be carried out there and then. I’ve got all the kit for cleaning and disinfecting it between farms and am hoping to be on the DEFRA preferred contractor list to help in this last round of TB testing that the Welsh Assembly has been carrying out.”

Andrew is certainly evangelical about the safety, efficiency and financial benefits that using top notch kit can bring to farmers and is going to various agricultural shows over the next few months to demonstrate the benefits that a portable cattle handling system can bring to the safety and efficiency of farmers.
“For one reasonable price you not only get the handling system set up on your farm but you get an experienced operator to help saving you the hassle of trying to find help, allowing you to get the job done, on time at busy periods.”

He adds: “By hiring in the right equipment, at the right time you can make significant financial savings and by using my service for all your cattle handling operations over the year, I’ve calculated that it would take over 5 years to pay for the average crush, and this is no ordinary crush!!!”

A sentiment that should resonate sweetly with farmers the length and breadth of the country.