Sow Out Backs Stubborn Sows Out Of Crates

Sow Out Backs Stubborn Sows Out Of Crates HOG EQUIPMENT & IDEAS Hog Equipment & Ideas (351) 6-5-9 "Stubborn sows that wouldn't back out of the crate were wasting my time and making me mad," says Minnesota hog producer Daniel Nosbush, of New Ulm, who solved the problem with his new invention called "Sow-Out". "First I took a Hotshot cattle prod and attached a wooden panel (14 in. wide and 20 in. tall) to the prod. I then ran 13 copper wires horizontally across the board. Each wire is actually raised off the board because there is a narrow piece of trim, about 3/8 in. thick, on the edges of the panel. Individual wires stretch across the top of the trim, then fasten underneath it between the trim and the panel," Nosbush explains. "I attached a wire to each of the two prod points with an alligator clip. I ran one wire along each side of the board under the trim and touching the copper wire. I made it so only every other copper wire touches the hot wire on each side. That way, a hog needs to touch two copper wires while I'm pushing the button on the Hotshot to get a shock. "Right now I'm looking for a manufacturer. I think it would be best if the board was made out of fiberglass. Cost for the entire unit, when made of fiberglass, should be under $70." For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Daniel Nosbush, Rt. 3, Box 39, New Ulm, Minn. 56073 (ph 507 359-9351).

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