Easy in the back paddocks

Fielding farmer David Short has invented a battery-powered shearing handpiece that can be used in the yards or paddocks, and for minimal cost. Short has spent four years perfecting the design and now the machine has hit the Australian market. He has sold 430 sets so far in New Zealand, mostly to large-scale farmers. As a lamb trader, he said he wanted something light, quick and easy that he could take into the yards to clean up the sheep before putting the sheep on the truck. Made from steel, the tool is the first portable, low-voltage mechanical handpiece. Short said it was a low-cost alternative to other traditional electric clippers that relied on mains power or a 12-volt battery. The motor of the handpiece can be battery pack-operated, attached to a belt, or connected to a vehicle. “It is ideal for out in the back paddock scenarios where otherwise you’d have to get a generator,” he said.