Graduate hits on winning idea with hydraulic crate for paring hooves
The machine’s inventor, Waterford IT agri science graduate Maeve O’Keeffe, says farmers can’t believe how calm the animals are when loaded onto the ‘Inspect 4’ crate, which then turns onto its side to ease the job of paring the hooves.
In response to demand from farmers, Maeve and her father Eddie plan to host a series of demonstrations early in the new year. The novel crate won the prestigious innovation award at the Tullamore Show, just missed out on the first prize in the NPA/Toplink Innovation Award, at the National Ploughing Championships and picked up silver at the National Dairy Show in Millstreet.
