Sheep Yards and Race.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 8 September 1891, Page 3

Sheep Yards and Race.

(See illustration on this page,)

A new sheep raoe recently invented by Mr Charles Wooclhouse on his estate, Spring Grove, Middle Arm. Aa shown in the sketch, it will be seen that the man racing the sheep, stands behind thorn instead of in front of the sheep, the ordinary way. No. 1, receiving yard ; No. 2, feeding yards; NoB, checkpen; No, 4, race Oft long 1 5in wide ; No 5, yard for fats ; No. o, .ditto stores ; No. 7, race gate Bft long. Attached from No. 8 post to this gate is a wire spring. This spring always keeps the gate in one position. When not at work, chock up against the post on the left hand side facing the man at the race. A small cord is then fastened on the top of the race gate, and passes across through a hole bored on the top of the right-hand post. Close against this hole on the outside is a ' small pulley wheel ; the rope goes through this, and also through two more small wheels fastened on the outside of the race, and extends back to the feeding yard, where it is

made fast, These small wheels keep the rope in one position on top of the fence. The man racing the sheep has merely to lay hold of the rope, and he is at once master of the situation, Presuming that the sheep were passing through, and a fat sheep was in front, he at once pulls the rope, which brings the gate up to the post, and the fat sheep passes through to No. 6 yard. Just behind the fat sheep is a store. The man slacks tho rope, aud the wire-spring immediately brings the gate back again to the left hand post, and the store sheep passes into No. 6 yard. The whole thsng is very simple, and will be of immense advantage to all those engaged racing sheep. In the first place the sheep travels through much faster than the ordinary way, as they are uninterrupted; no one being in front of them. Another thing, behind a sheep is the proper place to stand to ascertain if he is fat. Then, again, it saves the labor of two men ; as all that is required in this new plan is one man and a good dog, as shown in the sketch. No. 9 is a branding race.