Farmer's Friend

Two new training initiatives targeted at farmers and businesses in the beef and lamb supply chain have seen an unusual challenge overcome by Bentley Creative Chemicals who had to create an accurate and life-like feel in two silicone models.

 

EBLEX are responsible for helping beef and lamb farmers to improve the efficiency and profitability of their businesses and during 2008 they developed two new, unusual training packages that were directly aimed at tackling issues that can seriously impact a farmer’s business.

 

When it comes to determining an animal’s condition, one of the quickest, simplest and most reliable tools that farmers have at their disposal is their sense of touch - but it needs to be an educated and trained one in order for them to be able to make the right informed decisions. Knowing when a ram is ready for mating or “tupping” as it’s known in the trade, is extremely important and the farmer goes straight to the heart of the matter and feels the ram’s testicles to see if it is ready. Similarly, when it comes to judging the correct time to send sheep to the abattoir, gauging the meat/fat ratio on a sheep is critical and the sense of touch can be the most accurate and immediate method of making the right decision.

 

Traditionally a variety of props and rubber models have been used by EBLEX as part of their ongoing training programmes but they were keen to develop special models that could provide a much more accurate and life-like touch, which is where Bentley Chemicals entered the story.

 

  During 2008, Bentley’s technical team worked on developing a special blend of silicone that had all the right performance properties. “Trying to blend a silicone that would recreate a life-like feel for a ram’s testicle and a loin of lamb has been one of the more interesting technical challenges that we have met,” commented Rob Price from Bentley, “but there aren’t many challenges that can beat us and working with EBLEX, we got there in the end!”

 

The “tupping tester” was successfully launched at last year’s Royal Show and the loin, ribs and dock model was launched at the Royal Smithfield Fair in December. Both initiatives were  received very well and are now in full use by EBLEX.

 

 

 

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