Mr Laurie said shearing was the top issue facing many woolgrowers, and AWI was “doubling down on efforts to tackle the problem”.
He said the peak industry body was helping roll out modular race delivery systems, increasing training and retention programs for shearers, investigating robotics and working on improving biological defleecing.
“The beauty of the modular race delivery system is taking out some of shearing’s most physically demanding task – the catch and drag,” Mr Laurie said.
“As sheep have got bigger, that is additional stress on the shearer’s body – but the modular system removes that.
“AWI is working with six engineering companies to take the AWI-led design and make the race delivery systems commercially available to growers around Australia.”
In Victoria the contract has gone to Kyabram Steel, but there are also manufacturers in SA, WA and NSW.
After being convinced to try the system during its last shearing, Colligen Creek Station at Wakool looked set to go the whole hog and have its own modular race delivery system installed.
Mr Laurie said due to the size of their sheep, shearers working at Colligen Creek had expressed apprehensions about having to continually shear in what was considered a traditional shed.
He said AWI lent Colligen Creek’s Dennis Gleeson five stands (four manual, the fifth pneumatic) to complete his shearing last September.
“Using our technology saw 10,000 Colligen Creek ewes get shorn through the system, albeit it with some slight modifications to the existing shed to provide access into the units.
“During the run, and certainly at the end, contractor sentiment was high, and the shearers had no hesitation in telling us without the units it would not be feasible to continue shearing the excessively sized sheep due to the increased risk of injury.
“Dennis has now engaged with a contractor to build the modular race delivery system into his existing shed – and removing the old catching pens.”
This brought a smile to the face of the shearers and to the AWI team promoting the shift in approaching shearing.
Mr Laurie said interested growers were either looking to retrofit the system, or construct new, customised sheds incorporating the system to reduce costs in upgrading, using or replacing older infrastructure.
AWI applied for, and received a grant of $45,000 from the WA Government to further develop the race delivery system with a West Australian manufacturer.
With matching funding from AWI, this will bring the total investment to $90,000 in 2023.
AWI has an extensive range of shearing shed design and safety resources available for woolgrowers available at www.wool.com/sheddesign or to order at the AWI Helpline on 1800 070 099.
Its shed design guide aims to outline some of the considerations when designing or retrofitting shearing sheds.
The guide is broken down into five topic guides – in-shed pens, shearing board, wool room, general design and construction and equipment.
Arrow Park is an innovative shearing shed design with information and engineering plans available free online.
The SafeSheds shed safety program is a best practice guide and self-assessment resource developed with industry input to assist growers and contractors identify and rectify safety hazards and provide risk-management options.
