The Morrissey & Co solar powered crush at FarmFest.

LOOKING for a hydraulic cattle crush but don’t have power at your yards? A solar-powered crush could be the answer.

One of the nation’s oldest cattle equipment manufacturers has sold more than 30 units around Australia since debuting the innovation at the Beef 2024 trade show in Rockhampton last year.

The Morrissey family has been hand-forging cattle handling equipment and brands in the same blacksmith workshop at Jandoawe since 1910.

Their calf-cradles and branding irons can be found on stations all over Australia, and even on some of the most iconic ranches in the United States.

The family, now with a fifth generation involved in the business, manufactured their first cattle crushes in the 1960s, but stopped making them due to demand for calf cradles.

However, in partnership with Greg Rolfe from Rolfe Designs at Armidale, they are now selling what is believed to be the world’s first solar-powered hydraulic cattle crush.

“We wanted to address a need in the market, and this crush allows for producers who don’t have power at their yards to not have to run a crush powered off a generator,” Morrissey & Co national sales manager Rhys Webber (right) told Beef Central at FarmFest on Wednesday.

Two small solar panels keep the 12 volt battery ticking all day long.

Without solar, the battery can run the unit for 3.5 hours, while a larger battery which is also available which can operate the crush for six hours.

A phone app provides instant updates on battery health and solar charging status.

A silent revolution

What is most striking about watching the crush in operation is the lack of engine noise (see video above).

The crush performs a range of hydraulic functions with the press of buttons on a handheld control unit without the background clatter of a generator engine.

“The low noise environment means less stress on the animals and less stress on the people operating it,” Mr Webber said.

The crush includes an innovative neck extension system that moves the animal’s head forward, a safety feature which enables inoculations, mouthing and tagging to be conducted quickly and easily in front of the animal without requiring an operator to put their arm inside the crush.

Thick rubber-matting floors are also included to reduce slipping and noise.

An independent top and bottom squeeze, with the ability to set the crush in a “V” formation, also ensures any animal regardless of size can be easily immobilised, ensuring a safe environment for stock and staff.