The compact overall size of the Isuzu Grafter 3.5t rigid chassis cab, matched to its impressive 150bhp power output, is proving to be ideal for SKS Foottrimming Service Ltd. One such vehicle has just joined its vehicle fleet offering mobile preventative and curative foot trimming services for cattle herds in the South of England.

The Isuzu Grafter N35.150 (S) has been fitted with a brand new purpose-designed, rollover crush that secures the animal in position in a fully approved safe and humane manner prior to treatment. The animals are held securely in the U-shaped crush, which slowly lifts the animal up and lays it gently on its side, allowing easy access to the animal’s feet for trimming, especially the front feet.

The crush itself operates from a DC battery bank so no localised power is required, enabling hoof trimming work to be done out in the fields. Up to 40 cows can be trimmed without the need for mains power supply. The specialised bodies also have high-powered petrol pressure washers fitted onto the crush, with a turbo rotary nozzle, to facilitate cleaning of the equipment after work.

“We had a 2003 model trailed crush that needed replacing and the Isuzu Grafter was the perfect choice of vehicle for the replacement crush. The compact nature of the Isuzu means we can easily reach the remote farm locations and it certainly provides us with a more powerful and robust chassis on which to mount the sturdy rollover crush. It’s proving to be a most valuable addition to our vehicle fleet and is now servicing dairy and beef herds on farms in Southern England,” said Jon Clarke from SKS Foottrimming Service Ltd.

Local Isuzu dealer Ferndown Commercials Ltd, based in Wimborne, Dorset, supplied this latest Isuzu Grafter to SKS Foottrimming Service Ltd. SKS mainly operates in the counties of Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset. The Directors are members of the National Association of Cattle Foot Trimmers (NACFT) and are fully qualified Category 1 Trimmers.

“The flexibility and compact size of the Isuzu Grafter has made it a perfect vehicle for a wide range of diverse applications and obviously SKS has found that it meets all their requirements for this mobile foot trimming of cattle herds. Reaching remote farm locations, down narrow country roads, provides no problem for the Grafter, whilst the robust nature of the chassis can easily accommodate the weight of the rollover crush as well as the individual animal,” said Keith Child, Marketing Director, Isuzu Truck UK.

Full details of the current Isuzu Truck range can be viewed and downloaded from the company’s website on www.isuzutruck.co.uk