| 93 nzdairy RURAL SERVICES » Stock Ezy Calf in cradle (top), goats going on to the milking platform (below). Stock Ezy making things easier for farmers Tracey Edwardes Sean Blenkin created Stock Ezy simply to make things easier for farmers. The 66-year-old entrepreneur was a shearer for 15 years, then spent time in painting and building. In 2021, with a strong desire to fill a need on New Zealand farms, he produced Ewe Cradles, Fadge Wool Pack Holders and Back Stops, before developing the award-winning Flow Control Gates. Ongoing product development has flowed on to the dairy industry. “Ewe cradles have been around over 100 years, but modern sheep are larger and cradles on the market seemed too small. Then when selling them at Mystery Creek, I got asked for a calf cradle for rearing and tube feeding. “When calves go down with health issues such as Scours, they can come right in half the time in an upright cradle with a head rest. They’re essentially a metal frame with a long-lasting, weather-proof breathable fabric which Maire, my wife, sews on an industrial machine.” His Wool Pack Holder was popular at the Golden Shears shearing competition, with requests during Covid for ones with wheels, for the garden. Then 18 were even sent to Chatham Islands for their recycling depots. Stock Ezy’s Back Stops prevent the sheep from reversing up as they come up the race. “Those on market are spring operated, but our’s work on gravity. Designed to lift in and out, these should outlast the great grandchildren. For a continuous flow, they are on a mounting bracket so they can be taken in or out. One farmer said he was going to give up farming, but these will keep him going for another decade. “For dairy and cattle farmers, I’m currently working on cattle back stop in varying heights.” His popular Flow Control Gates were developed over 12 months, winning the innovation awards in 2024 in Southland Field Days in the No. 8 wire section, and second in the South Island Field Days in 2021. “When I was shearing, nothing was done about jamming and bottlenecking in the drafting race. You’d have to stop and free them up. It helps them enter the race in a more uniform manner. You see the immediate difference in sheep flow. A farmer recently said “wow it has saved us a labour unit. They have been designed with torsion springs which is not being worked, so I can’t see them ever wearing out.” Sean says they have found their way to goat and sheep milking sheds, easing and controlling the flow onto the herringbone platform. This unique in New Zealand product is gaining popularity as the word is spreading. “I travel the country installing them on three month trials, before sending the invoice. And I haven’t had a complaint yet. Out of 200 flow control gates, I’ve only had six back. Every sheep gate has gone into a different situation - they’re very adaptable.” Stock Ezy’s products sell with little profit margin. That’s how Sean likes it. “Farmers might not be able to afford a new tractor at the shows, but they can come home with something. I guess I enjoy what I’m doing - providing reasonably priced products makes more people happy. A Back Stop is $100 plus GST, Ewe Cradles $280 plus GST and Flow Control Gatesare $540 installed.” Sean uses 2K Engineering in Masterton for all steel and welding work, while he does the assembly in batches. “Watch this space I’ve got more developments in the pipeline.” LEADERS IN RESTRUCTURING LAND GRASS SILAGE | CULTIVATION | DRILLING / UNDERSOWING MULCHING / STUMP GRINDING | HAY BLOWING | FENCING 09 235 0770 rvscontracting.co.nz info@rvscontracting.co.nz
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