Extensive cattle and sheep yards, crushes and handlers

In the non-contained area of QASP there are animal handling yards able to accommodate up to 300 head of cattle and 120 head of sheep and goats. There are three large holding areas for animals being inducted, all with access to fresh water and feeding areas. Within the main yards, there is one Silencer crush which is located directly in front of a weighing crate.

A long race has been designed to link with a V-shaped let-up yard which includes some state of the art safety features such as gradient hinges. These locking devices stop the gate being forced back by cattle which protects the operator. Specialised MLA approved flooring is incorporated in the main yards which is non-slip and absorbs impact to optimise the welfare of the animals. The crush has a pneumatic squeeze, a pneumatic rear door, and also pneumatically operates a 5-way drafter. This design is very user-friendly and reduces labour requirements while keeping the welfare of the animals paramount. All QASP staff are well trained and experienced with working with large animals and employ Low Stress Stock handling (LSS) techniques outside of the flight zone of the animals. Access to an adjacent Veterinary Science facility can be organised on arrangement if required.

Through the use of custom designed gates and panels, the main yards have direct access to most other animal holding areas within QASP, such that after arrival to the facility on the truck animals do not require further use of a truck for the duration of any research at QASP.