A Territory invention could revolutionise buffalo handling in remote regions

A Northern Territory adaptation has recorded promising results for buffalo handlers in remote regions. See how the innovative machine works here.

The successful trial of an NT-designed and tested portable buffalo handler will improve safety and efficiency for remote contract mustering teams and Indigenous land managers horn-tipping freshly caught free range beasts.

Part of a research collaboration between the NT Buffalo Industry Council and AgriFutures, the portable handler was designed for use in temporary livestock yards in very remote parts of the Top End to hold freshly caught wild buffalo.

The project targeted an engineering solution to improve animal welfare and human safety as well as improving biosecurity and traceability by ensuring animals are tagged before being trucked away.

Lindsay Germein trialling the new handler on a herd of swamp buffalo at Woolner Station.

NT Buffalo Industry Council vice-president Michael Swart said construction of the portable handler was a breakthrough for wild buffalo management.

“We’re using an excavator, and where the bucket would usually be, we’ve attached a holding mechanism designed to secure a swamp buffalo for more efficient handling,” Mr Swart said.

“We can put a NLIS tag in the ear while the horns are immobilised, then cut the tip of the horns for safer transportation and perform any other treatments that might be necessary,” Mr Swart said.

An eight tonne or 13 tonne excavator can be attached to the handler.

Free range buffalo are either mustered by helicopter into temporary yards or caught with mechanical arms on the side of specially modified catching vehicles.

Workers trialling the new handler on a herd of swamp buffalo at Woolner Station.

Almost 11,000 buffalo have been exported live to South-East Asia annually in recent years and Rum Jungle abattoir has processed 6000 buffalo a year since it re-opened in 2020.

Mr Swart’s family business, Wildman River Stock Contractors, collaborated with another local business, Acacia Mechanical Contracting, to build the attachment which was debuted before Christmas at Woolner Station on a trial-run of swamp buffalo.

“The initial trial went extremely well,” he said.

“We were really happy with how the concept stood-up to working out in the field and with freshly caught animals.

“We gained some excellent insights to help us with the next tests in the next month or two.

Northern Territory Livestock Exporters' Association CEO Tom Dawkins is excited by the innovation.

“From what we achieved in our trials, we hope to be able to process one animal every one to two minutes with this system, which means that 100 animals could be handled in a morning before the heat of the day sets in.

“That sort of efficiency makes a huge difference for the animals and also the people processing them.”

NT Buffalo Industry Council executive officer Tom Dawkins said there was strong industry interest in the progress of initial trials, with scope for the new handler to be used as part of commercial and research work in the coming Dry season.

“There’s real scope for our newly-designed handler to assist in tagging operations which will deliver real-time, geographically accurate insights into herd density and location,” he said.