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Stock Underpass the Way To Go for a Southland Farm

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“The installation of stock underpasses for farms split by roads is almost standard practice these days,” says Grant Henderson, Sales Representative for Humes Pipelines Systems.

Mike Clinton, a dairy farmer in Southland, recently installed a Hume’s stock underpass beneath Long Bush Road, to move his stock safely from one side of his farm to the other.

“Mike milks twice a day and the management involved in getting a dairy herd across the road several times a day was very demanding on his operation,” said Grant Hoffman (from A.G Hoffman, the contractor who installed the underpass). “Southland District Council requires new conversions to install stock underpasses and encourages installations on existing farms. Mike voluntarily made the decision to invest in the underpass to assist with the management of his property.”

“As Long Bush Road is a residential road, the council permitted the road to be closed for a week for the installation to take place,” adds Grant Hoffman. “This is a relatively small underpass, 6 units at a size of 4mW x 2mH x 1.5mL. The installation went very well and we were able to reinstate the road within the allocated time - even with a bit of rough weather thrown in.”

For Mike, safety for himself, his staff and the herd are a top priority. The cost in terms of man hours to manage the herd across the road safely twice a day and reducing the impact on the environment were also factors in favour of investing in a stock underpass.

“Mike is extremely happy with the new underpass and was glad it was operating in time for calving,” adds Grant Henderson from Humes. “He no longer needs to worry about animals breaking out and the danger this creates for motorists or the mess stock can leave behind on the road.”

Farming is big business today. Investment in a stock underpass adds value to any farm and contributes to the safer, smother running of the farm. “It doesn’t take the herd long, they only need to move through the underpass once and then they know where they are going and will appear at the shed or gate, saving the farmer a lot of time and money” adds Grant Hoffman.

Article:

8 February 2018

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