Investing in handling facilities for your herd or flock can result in a big financial burden on your farm. However, the savings that can be made with labour, efficiency and safety should not be understated.

If farmers are smart with their design and avail of the current grants available, then they can put up a very cost-effective investment.

In this design, the handling unit was constructed outside of the shed. While this system does have its drawbacks, having a larger pen than would be possible with a creep area means the unit is better suited for the sheep flock on the farm too. And for a net cost of little over €20,000, the farmer did get bang for his buck.

Such a project would have been extremely difficult to finance if it wasn’t for the 60% grant aid available through TAMS (Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme).

Improvement

As we enter into the final two years of the scheme, young farmers in particular should assess their farmyards and identify areas that may need improvement. It does not have to be a €80,000 shed but is there scope to do some sheep fencing, or install an outdoor handling unit, for example, to make management easier for yourself?

We also go to the other end of the spectrum with a top-of-the-range semi-automated handling system with a hydraulically controlled crush box. Such a system will not be an option for many farmers. However, for larger herds or feedlots it provides a very safe way of handling large numbers of cattle.

Finally, we look at a new sheep shed recently constructed to make life easier around lambing in Co Galway. The 150-ewe flock can now be housed under the one roof, with individual lambing pens in situ, greatly reducing management during the busy spring period.

Over the past few years, as the economy has recovered, we are seeing fewer and fewer young people in rural Ireland to work on farms, so any investment that is made in facilities should be aimed at making handling of stock a one-person operation with safety a key consideration.