Farm Weekly

Farmer-designed equipment delivering smart stock handling solution

Designed by farmers, for farmers: The designers and owners of Combi Clamp, Lynley and Wayne Coffey.
Designed by farmers, for farmers: The designers and owners of Combi Clamp, Lynley and Wayne Coffey.

This is branded content for Combi Clamp.

With the landscape of farming constantly evolving, farmers are often faced with the question, "How can we make operations more productive and profitable on the farm?".

It's the challenge that inspired farmers Wayne and Lynley Coffey to set about designing and then developing their own solution to making on farm practices more user friendly and efficient for themselves and their stock.

Back in 1998,Wayne had the first ideas for a way to make the job of dagging the 10,000 ewes he was managing on a Taihape Hill country property in New Zealand easier and less physically demanding for himself.

He also wanted equipment that could be used in the paddock so the ewes didn't have to make the long trip to the woolshed, saving time and energy.

The result was the Combi Clamp Sheep Handler that these days is providing farmers in New Zealand and Australia with an innovative alternative for completing tasks like dagging, drenching, weighing, and vaccinating through its hands-free operation and easy access to the animal.

Farmer-designed equipment delivering smart stock handling solution
Farmer-designed equipment delivering smart stock handling solution

Optional extras like a lamb wall for accessing smaller animals, an open classing wall for taking side samples, and a gadget holder for holding equipment make the range of tasks that this clamp can do, virtually endless.

The stance of the sheep also means tasks can be paired together, creating more timely and effective operations that allow farmers to work towards "prevention rather than intervention" for their animals.

"Our customers are telling us that the Combi Clamp means they can be much more proactive rather than reactive with their animal care, while also looking after their own bodies," said Wayne.

"It was also important to us in creating this product that animal experience and welfare were fully accounted for. By using black rubber to minimise noise and ensuring that animals were constantly visible to each other, the flow of livestock into the clamp is increased while stress levels in the yard are decreased."

Farmer-designed equipment delivering smart stock handling solution
Farmer-designed equipment delivering smart stock handling solution

The lack of noise is a key feature and benefit of the manual operation, as is the increased control and safety over the clamping action which adds an extra level of peace of mind when the equipment is being used.

"it means that we feel assured in the knowledge that everyone is safe, including our grandkids and also our dogs, who regularly enjoy running through the handler for praise at the end of a job," said Lynley.

With the business now thriving in New Zealand and Australia, the Coffeys' focus remains on delivering a quality product that can handle the tough conditions on a farm. But their hearts are also still in farming.

"As farmers ourselves, we take pride in ensuring that the design and manufacture of our products are done to the highest level to ensure that we are providing farmers, throughout Australasia, with a quality product," said Wayne.

For a number of years the Combi Clamp has been available through Nutrien Ag Solutions (previously Landmark), making them more accessible for our Australian customers. With the unpredictability of field days, the Coffeys also decided in late 2020 to expand distribution to CRT stores, to meet the increased demand of the business's handlers.

People can still access Wayne's depth of knowledge by contacting him directly on 1800 449 561. Or you can see videos of the Combi Clamp in action and get more information at the Combi Clamp website.

This is branded content for Combi Clamp.