Leader Products Scanners and Cattle Prodders
| Cattle prodders and an NLIS tag reader from Leader Products, add to cart and shipped Australia-wide. The Red Heeler is the rechargeable cattle prodder with 240V and 12V chargers in the box. The Yellow Heeler runs on four C batteries. The GPScanID 80 reads NLIS tags with GPS and Bluetooth built in. We're an official Leader reseller, so you get the same 12 month warranty as buying direct. |
Not sure which prodder? If it lives in the ute and comes out a few times a year, the Yellow Heeler does the job for $115 and takes C batteries from any servo. If you're in the yards every week, the Red Heeler at $184 charges off the wall or the 12V socket in the truck. Both use the same 810 mm flexible shaft, the same handle shape and the same wrist strap.
| Yellow Heeler, $115 | Red Heeler, $184 | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 4 x C batteries (included) | Rechargeable battery pack |
| Charging | None. Swap the batteries | 240V wall charger and 12V car charger, both in the box |
| Shaft | 810 mm flexible, wrist strap | 810 mm flexible, wrist strap |
| Weight (Leader spec) | 945 g | 1.11 kg |
| Spares | Shafts (300, 560, 810 mm) | Shafts, battery pack, chargers, handle |
| Warranty | 12 months, normal use | 12 months, normal use |
Need to read tags as well as move stock? The GPScanID 80 is Leader's handheld NLIS reader at $480. It reads HDX and FDX-B tags, stores 175,000 reads and logs the GPS position of every scan. The NLIS tag reader buying guide covers how it sits alongside the FOFIA and Allflex readers we also stock.
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Cattle prodder buying guide
Cattle prodder questions
Straight answers on the rules, the models and what to buy.
Are cattle prodders legal in Australia?
Yes. Every state and territory allows electric prodders on cattle, sheep and goats. The rules are about how you use one: not on calves under 3 months (NSW says weaned), never on the face, udder, anus or genitals, never on an animal that can't move away, and sparingly. Horses are off limits everywhere. In Victoria and the NT a cattle prod is a controlled weapon, which means carry it for farm work, not for anything else.
How much is a cattle prodder?
The Leader Yellow Heeler with the 810 mm shaft is $115 and runs on four C batteries. The rechargeable Red Heeler with the same shaft is $184 and comes with 240V and 12V chargers. Shipping is $25 standard or $55 express Australia-wide.
Rechargeable or battery, which cattle prodder should I buy?
Battery (Yellow Heeler) if it comes out a few times a year and you want to leave it in the ute. Rechargeable (Red Heeler) if you're in the yards weekly, or you want to charge it off the 12V socket in the truck. Same shafts fit both.
What shaft length do I need?
810 mm is the standard for race and loading work. It keeps your arm out of the crush and reaches across a lane. Leader also makes 560 mm for tight yards and 300 mm for the crush or head bail. Shafts are interchangeable between the Red and Yellow Heeler and sold separately, so buy the length you'll use most.
Where on the animal do you use a cattle prodder?
Hindquarter, rump or shoulder, and only once. Never the face, udder, anus or genitals. That's the law in every state. If the animal bellows you've overdone it.
How many volts is a cattle prodder?
Leader describes the Heeler range as a high-voltage, low-current pulse and doesn't publish a volt figure, so we don't either. The number that matters is the current, which is tiny. It stings without injuring when used briefly on the hindquarter.
Does Bunnings sell cattle prodders?
No. Bunnings doesn't stock a cattle prodder. Rural stores sometimes do. Or order the Leader Red or Yellow Heeler here and we'll have it shipped to you anywhere in Australia.
Can I use a cattle prodder on sheep, goats or pigs?
Sheep, yes, same conditions as cattle. Goats, yes, unless pregnant. Pigs only when loading or unloading, only over 60 kg, and only when everything else has failed. Never horses, and never dogs or any other animal.
Can I use it in the rain, or on wet cattle?
It works on a wet hide. Two cautions from the makers: a wet shaft can arc between the contacts, so wipe it dry after use and store it with the shaft off the handle, and a soaking wet animal feels it more, so use it even more sparingly. Leader doesn't publish a water rating for the Heelers, so don't dunk it.
What's the difference between the Red Heeler and the Yellow Heeler?
Power. The Red Heeler has a rechargeable battery pack with 240V and 12V chargers in the box and weighs 1.11 kg with the 810 mm shaft. The Yellow Heeler runs on four C batteries, weighs 945 g, and has nothing to charge. Same shaft, same wrist strap, same 12 month warranty.
Do you sell spare shafts and batteries?
Yes, through Leader. Flexible shafts in 300, 560 and 810 mm fit both Heelers. The Red Heeler also has a replacement battery pack, both chargers and a handle-only spare. Give us a buzz on 0431 183 421 and we'll order it in.
Does the GPScanID 80 upload to NLIS?
It stores each read with a timestamp and GPS location, and the free desktop software downloads the sessions to your PC and handles NLIS transfers. It reads every HDX (NLIS approved) and FDX-B tag, so cattle and sheep EID both work.
Still not sure which one?
Call 0431 183 421