The Longreach Regional Council’s EzyWire wild dog exclusion fencing unit in action.

AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation has produced a 36-page practical guide for wool growers that describes exclusion fences being used wool growers to protect sheep and control total grazing pressure.

Well-designed and constructed exclusion fences have been very effective at preventing wild dogs from entering wool growers’ properties or ‘clusters’ of properties, minimising dog attacks and increasing farm productivity.

The guide has been put together with the help of wool growers, fencing contractors, extension officers and representatives from fencing supply companies in Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales. It aims to:

• show what wool growers have done to manage wild dogs
• give an overview of the most popular exclusion fence designs and materials
• enable fencing design and material assessment
• identify and resolve challenges with building and maintaining exclusion fencing
• provide links to useful resources such as fencing suppliers and funding bodies for designing and building exclusion fencing.

AWI does not recommend, guarantee or warrant the performance of any design, product or service referred to in this guide.

The guide is not to be an ‘instruction manual for how to build your exclusion fencing’. The practical guide will be continually updated and maintained on the AWI website as new information and photos are available, to ensure it is always up-to-date and relevant.

Click here to read the AWI exclusion fencing guide. For more information about wild dog behaviour, and general wild dog exclusion fencing, refer to the 14-page Kondinin Group Research Report No.288: Exclusion Fencing, Fighting Ferals (PDF 4MB).

Source: AWI.

Toyota launches new HiLux utes

TOYOTA has launched three new versions of Australia’s top-selling car last year – its HiLux ute.

Toyota Australia’s vice president sales and marketing Sean Hanley said the new 4×4 double cab Rugged X, Rogue and Rugged models are new “fully-fledged” HiLux models designed and developed in Australia. Toyota ceased manufacturing its cars in Australia last year.

Toyota sold 47,093 Hilux’s last year, up from 42,104 in 2016, slightly ahead of its nearest competitor, the Ford Ranger at 47,728, up from 36,934.

The other most popular cars in Australia last year included the Toyota Corolla, with 37,353 sales, down 2977; the Mazda3 at 32,690, down 3417; the Hyundai i30 at 28,780, down 8992; the Mazda CX-5 at 25,831, up 1267, and; the Hyundai Tucson at 23,828, up 1267.

Mr Hanley said the new HiLux models were not accessorised special editions, but the average HiLux customer spends over $2000 on accessories for their vehicles, so Toyota has incorporated a range of these features in the new HiLux models.

“Designed and developed over a three-year vehicle program, all the new components on these stunning HiLux models are fully integrated and engineered into the core vehicle and covered by the standard factory warranty,” he said.

The Rugged X is the new top-of-the-range HiLux model fully equipped for off-road adventures, list priced at $61,690 in manual or $63,690 as an automatic. It has a winch-compatible heavy-duty steel front bar with integrated bash plate, LED lightbar and driving lights provides effective off-road protection and, together with the new design grille.

Further protective and recovery features include a snorkel, purposeful side rock rails that are able to support a fully laden vehicle, front and rear recovery points and a new heavy-duty steel rear bar and integrated tow bar.

The rear tub of the Rugged X has a new steel sports bar that can support a vertical load of 75kg and, with multiple tie down points, secure up to 200kg on the floor of the tub. Inside it has leather-accented seats, a new design instrument cluster, metallic black ornamentation and black headlining.

The automatic-only HiLux Rogue is priced at $61,690 has been designed for the urban adventurer customer and features redesigned front and rear ends reflecting Toyota’s global truck design. It was designed in Australia and developed with Toyota Thailand engineering team as a stylish premium HiLux model with the same interior features and trim as the Rugged X.

The HiLux SR-based Rugged is a manual list priced at $54,990 with a six-speed automatic option for an extra $2000. Like the Rugged X, the Rugged also features a snorkel, redesigned grille, side rock rails, sports bar and heavy-duty steel rear bar.

All three new HiLux models share the same mechanical specifications as the SR5 or SR models on which they are based and are powered by a proven, strong and efficient 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine.

Driving through a part-time, shift-on-the-fly 4×4 system with a full set of low-range ratios, the engine generates maximum power of 130kW and 450Nm of torque with the optional six-speed automatic transmission or 420Nm when mated to the six-speed manual gearbox.

Source: Toyota. Toyota’s list prices do not include statutory charges or other on-road costs.

Leader Products and Queclink alliance

AUSTRALIAN livestock identification and animal husbandry company Leader Products has announced a landmark strategic partnership deal with global wireless machine-to-machine company Queclink Wireless Solutions for international distribution rights outside the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Leader Products and Queclink have also entered into supply and research & development agreements whereby Queclink acquires the exclusive rights to supply a wide range of products as well as R&D services to Leader Products.

Queclink is a leading supplier of wireless machine-to-machine (M2M) devices and solutions.

Queclink brings together an experienced team from the wireless module industry and service operator side, for a complete understanding of the M2M business. They offer ready-made products for automotive tracking, fleet management, tracking & tracing, lone worker safety, mobile health care, remote monitoring and control of any assets, and wireless alarms to cover most popular applications via the Internet. The company has engineers with extensive experience with 2G & 3G, GPS, Bluetooth, WIFI, RFID & NFC and other wireless connectivity.

Leader Products said it is excited to partner with Queclink in what is a multi-billion dollar industry to help redevelop global livestock traceability technology and solutions.

Source: Leader Products.

• AgBiz & Product News is an occasional compilation of contributed rural product and business news items collated by Sheep Central. Send your business news and product development items for consideration to [email protected]