SCANNING IN TARARUA DISTRICT
canning has been around for a long time and Earl Paewai has been doing it for farmers in the Tararua District for 26 years.
SHis operation covers the scanning of cattle and sheep, cows in-calf and dry, splitting cycles for cattle and scanning for multiples (twins and triplets.) Earl is one of the most experienced scanners in the country. “While scanning, we can three-way draft, then auto mark the stock into their groups,” says Earl. “If the farmers don’t want marker on the wool, we can draft without marking them.
“This year I’m introducing my daughter, Tesni, into the business, working with me. She was learning last season and will have her own crate this season alongside me - progressing through a three-year learning plan.
“Scanning cows at this time of the year will continue through to March and April. Mid-May will see a start on the January/February mated ewes through June, July and August. Then
I travel to the South Island to scan in Marlborough for merinos and Central Otago.
“New this year will be a scanning crate on a completely covered-in trailer. Sheep run up into the trailer to be scanned and go out through the drafting gates. Setting up each job is now much quicker and we can scan in tandem.
Earl goes right out to the coast: Pongaroa, Weber, Herbertville and surrounding areas and south of Akitio. He scans in Central Hawke’s Bay and in the Gisborne area.
Scanning gives the breeders vital information to help them make management decisions.
His set-up is very portable and doesn’t need power as he has a battery pack. “Scanning gives the breeders vital information to help them make management decisions.
“Scanning day is a big day on the farm it’s like an exam result,” he says.