hANDLING SYSTEMS
The key fact of keeping sheep whether 1 or 1,000 they need herding, funnelling, restraining and confining if one is to achieve even the simplest of management tasks. Therefore a sheep handling system is essential even if you are dealing with only a small flock!
Static Systems
If you are lucky to own a large farm with a central set of farm buildings then a static handling system seems a good solution. Why take the yard to the sheep? However in the UK years of buying and selling of land, splitting up of the family farm and subsequent amalgamation have led to farms being spread across many miles making it unrealistic or a logistical nightmare to return the sheep to the static handling simply to select fat lambs for example.
Of course the main reason why a static system seems attractive is that once up it never comes down! Plus we do not waste time setting it up. This is true, however it is equally true to say that once up it is difficult to adjust to the days task. Pens are fixed sizes that do not always fit the job or we simply do not have enough pens. A static system also takes up allot of space. Space that if it was not there could be used for something else. For example if you have a big shed, it can be covered handling at one time, lambing shed the next and fat lamb finishing at the end of the season, even of course a wedding venue or football pitch. Something that we also all miss is that quite often static systems are expensive! WHAT compared to a Mobile Yard? YES. There is a very hidden cost in static systems as they tend to grow, what starts as a few sheets tin and a few concreted in posts grows in time, effort and cost, and then after a few years of putting sheep through it, you decide you got it wrong and start again! More cost. |
Mobile Systems
Mobile systems are primarily designed to be taken to the sheep as a fully self contained handling system. They normally combine a basic trailer mounted central race, with or without manual drafting and a set of gates, hurdles and panels provide the pens.
The number of sheep you need to handle, dictates the size of the system and therefore mobile sheep handling systems tend to be sold based on the number of gates required to make large enough pens. The number of gates then dictates the size of the trailer, for example a 10ft or 12ft. Because the aim of a mobile system is of course to be mobile, gates, hurdles and panels have to be lightweight, not only for you to handle, but for the vehicle to tow! Therefore most systems are aluminium. Solid panels (race extensions ) tend to be aluminium with plastic or plywood sides. If you have a farm spread over several miles you will probably come to the conclusion that a mobile system is a must. However one of the biggest advantages of a mobile system is its flexibility. You can simply change the design/ layout of your pens to fit the job and even adjust it as the job goes. Fine tuning your layout as you go. It is this flexibility that should make you consider using it in the yard as well as the field. |
Terminology
Mobile Handling System.
A trailer based sheep handling system designed to be moved to the sheep, comprising a race, panels, hurdles, gates etc. Normally made to to lightweight and deployed/set up and taken down in minutes.
Panel
A solid / partially solid panel, normally used to make or extend the main sheep race. Plywood, plastic or solid aluminium sheet provide the infill. They need to be easy to handle but heavy enough not to be blown by the wind!. Normally hurdles are sold 8ft in length and carried in the central race of the trailer. linked together by 36in pins
Hurdle
A aluminium hurdle normally 5 - 8 ft in length. They are provide the pens. Normally these are not solid panels but constructed with rails. Very lightweight they are connected together by 36in pins
Gate
Device for controlling the flow of the sheep through the system. There are different kinds of gates. The term gate includes the gate and its gate post(s). They are linked together by pins and may even be pined to the ground. They are also used to define the width of the race and provide upright support
Spreader Gate
This is used to widen or narrow the width of the race, or change to a double race.
Forcing Gate
A large gate used to 'force' sheep into a small pen / race. Quite often reversible. They tend to be 8ft wide.
Drafting Gate
A gate designed to allow manual drafting of sheep into multiple pens (normal 3). Some panels are available with a single drafting gate built in.
Guillotine Gate
Race width gate that operates like a guillotine sliding up and down. Does not have a blade!. May have string attached to be operated from a distance
Non Return Gate
Normally a push through the gate type gate that only allows the sheep to push through from one direction. It is primarily used in an extended race to stop the sheep backing out once forced in.
Pin
Aluminium metal rod used to connect the system together. Normal 36 inch on length.
A trailer based sheep handling system designed to be moved to the sheep, comprising a race, panels, hurdles, gates etc. Normally made to to lightweight and deployed/set up and taken down in minutes.
Panel
A solid / partially solid panel, normally used to make or extend the main sheep race. Plywood, plastic or solid aluminium sheet provide the infill. They need to be easy to handle but heavy enough not to be blown by the wind!. Normally hurdles are sold 8ft in length and carried in the central race of the trailer. linked together by 36in pins
Hurdle
A aluminium hurdle normally 5 - 8 ft in length. They are provide the pens. Normally these are not solid panels but constructed with rails. Very lightweight they are connected together by 36in pins
Gate
Device for controlling the flow of the sheep through the system. There are different kinds of gates. The term gate includes the gate and its gate post(s). They are linked together by pins and may even be pined to the ground. They are also used to define the width of the race and provide upright support
Spreader Gate
This is used to widen or narrow the width of the race, or change to a double race.
Forcing Gate
A large gate used to 'force' sheep into a small pen / race. Quite often reversible. They tend to be 8ft wide.
Drafting Gate
A gate designed to allow manual drafting of sheep into multiple pens (normal 3). Some panels are available with a single drafting gate built in.
Guillotine Gate
Race width gate that operates like a guillotine sliding up and down. Does not have a blade!. May have string attached to be operated from a distance
Non Return Gate
Normally a push through the gate type gate that only allows the sheep to push through from one direction. It is primarily used in an extended race to stop the sheep backing out once forced in.
Pin
Aluminium metal rod used to connect the system together. Normal 36 inch on length.