World’s first automatic drench gun launched

Livestock tagging and identification company Shearwell Data has released the world’s first drench gun that calibrates dose rates automatically.

The gun, designed and manufactured by New Zealand-based firm Te Pari, wirelessly connects to the weigh scale using wi-fi and calculates the precise dose rate for each animal based on its weight.

© Tim Scrivener

See also: New products that will be unveiled at the Livestock Event 2016

Launching its release at the National Beef Association’s Beef Expo at Bakewell yesterday (20 May) Sam Webber Shearwell Data’s UK sales manager, said: “It’s a superbly ergonomic tool that is not only accurate, it is self-powered to reduce hand strain and it is really easy to use.

“The gun will eliminate both underdrenching and costly overdrenching that can occur with traditional methods of drenching.”

The technology is compatible with the Te Pari Weigh Scale or the Shearwell Stock Recorder.

Two models are available: a manual calibration gun that allows farmers to select dose rates on screen, which costs £600, and an automatic calibration gun that costs £850.

Two barrels are also available: a 70mm barrel for cattle that doses 5-90ml and a smaller barrel for sheep that doses 1-14ml.

This can also be used for injections and will be available later this year.