Online timer for 41 minutes
Once the gate is open and the mob starts moving, a 41 minutes countdown can run while you leave the phone behind and work between the paddocks. That span suits a small group already settled to being shifted, with enough room for closing the first gate, guiding stragglers and securing the next one without stretching the job to fill the clock.
While you are out of reach of the screen, the sound needs to remain noticeable at the finish. Headphones can quietly take over the alert even when they are hanging in the shed or sitting in a pocket, so the signal may never reach you by the far gate. Checking where audio will play before setting off makes the countdown useful when wind, stock noise and distance already compete for attention.
For a short paddock shift, match the span to the mob, the lane and the ground rather than changing your pace to suit a fixed number. Allow more time after Waikato rain, where a muddy race slows hooves and gate work, or when young stock need gentler pressure. Trim the span when the adjoining paddock is close and the route is dry, familiar and clear.
Common questions
What could make this paddock shift take longer than the set time?
A wet race, an awkward gate or animals breaking back toward the first paddock can all extend the move. Let the countdown finish, then keep handling the mob calmly until every animal is through and both gates are secure.
What if the small mob reaches the next paddock before the countdown ends?
Finish the gate check and account for any stragglers before stopping it. The unused minutes are a useful guide for choosing a shorter span next time under similar New Zealand farm conditions.
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