48 | “Small ruminants seem to be the new way forward. Their environmental impact is a lot less than cows, and farmers are nding the return on their investment is really good.” RURAL SERVICES » Arc Engineering Sheep, goat milking barns on the increase Atarangi farms, Fert bunker with sliding roof. Richard Loader Specialising in quality dairy shed engineering services, including yards, backing gates, feed pads, and general engineering, ARC Engineering Taupo provides a broad spectrum of work to farmers and construction rms all across New Zealand. Owned by Matt and Kerry Nash since 2013, Matt loves the variety of work offered by the dairy industry and also the chance to see a lot of the countryside as ARC Engineering works on projects from Kerikeri to Southland. “The rural sector is fantastic to work in,” he says. “The farming community is a great bunch of people and farmers are pretty easy going customers. There is some pressure when we need to get projects delivered on time, and that’s where our experience of the dairy industry helps us to understand what the farmer needs and when they need it.” A lot of ARC Engineering’s recent work has been in the Waikato region, where farmers are upgrading their existing units with some upsizing by buying the neighbouring properties. While some dairy farmers are getting out of the industry in a response to rising environmental pressures and costs, others are looking at alternatives to dairy as a solution. Its many years of dairy industry experience has ARC Engineering Taupo well placed for a heavy involvement in the emerging small ruminant dairy industry, with the company having provided structural steel work on sheep and goat milking parlours, housing sheds, and kidding barns in the past couple of years. “We have done quite a few sheep sheds, where farmers are converting farms from cow milking to sheep milking or combing both, and we have been heavily involved with New Zealand Dairy Goats as they develop their property at Waharoa. Small ruminants seem to be the new way forward. “Their environmental impact is a lot less than cows, and farmers are nding the return on their investment is really good as well.” In 2020/21, ARC Engineering completed a milestone project for New Zealand Dairy Goats with Gibson Construction, providing the structural steel work for two new 14,000sqm goat barns which each house 3000 goats, (the largest shed ARC Construction has ever put up) and an 80 bale goat rotary shed. ARC Engineering has recently been back to Waharoa to provide the structural steel work for a large kidding barn. Matt says in a small ruminant milking shed, the dynamics can be completely changed from the traditional cow shed. “With a cow shed, you need all your animals to lead straight in from the yard, as turning corners can damage cows’ feet. But sheep and goats don’t have the same problem, so instead of being in front of the shed, the yard can be situated to the side of the shed, if that is what works for your site. RURAL, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL BUILDERS Ph: 07 871 4986 E: info@gibsonconstruction.co.nz www.gibsonconstruction.co.nz WHERE QUALITY IS NEVER COMPROMISED WHERE QUALITY IS NEVER COMPROMISED “Instead of being a long structure, it can be more compact. It’s a different way of thinking and there are a lot more options.” ARC Engineering recently completed structural steel work for a new deer milking facility near Taupo, which was de nitely something different to be involved with. NZDG goat housing structural, Waharoa NZ.
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