The developers of a giant pooper scooper for alpaca dung expect it to be widely used in other areas of agriculture.
"We believe that we have something unique to the New Zealand market," says Dwane Phillips, of Coronation Machinery in Bell Block, near New Plymouth.
" It is at least 50 percent cheaper than anything even similar to our prototype."
Phillips says the Alpaca Droppings Recovery Unit (ADRS 6000 prototype Mark 1) was built when Onaero alpaca farmer Beryl Thomas sought a machine to collect her animals' droppings.
Alpacas, which are related to the camel and look like a cross between a sheep and a llama, will not graze on paddocks with droppings on them.
Co-worker and fellow designer Neil Stewart says Thomas had wanted something light, affordable and efficient. Users had identified problems with other potential machines: they turned dung to paste or dust if it was too dry or too wet, making them difficult to clean, they were heavy and cost $18,000 to $20,000.
"Because we came up with an alternative way to pick up the droppings, our machine leaves the dung intact," he said.
"We are using a vacuum-cleaner style, as opposed to a blower method with paddle pick-up system."
Stewart said the unit's advantages included its versatility, cost - about $9000 - all the parts being available off the shelf and a 6000W generator, on a trailer to supply power anywhere, any time.
Modified versions could pick up walnuts and fruit and do other gathering functions. Zoo keepers and other farmers could use it to save time spent on cage and enclosure cleaning.
