Designing an Efficient Handling System for Sheep and Goats

Moving sheep or goats, or handling them for routine management tasks, should be a stress-free situation. Designing an efficient handling system can make all the difference in how well sheep or goats move through the handling system. Once the sheep and goats have moved outside to pastures. producers can spend a few moments evaluating their current system or developing a new one.

As producers look at handling systems, they should consider both human and animal aspects. Human aspects include working conditions in the area around the system. Placing the handling system in an area out of the weather and in a convenient location easily accessible to the sheep should be top priorities. No producer enjoys working animals with the hot sun beating down on them or with rain soaking them to the skin! Ideally, producers should locate the system in an area dedicated for handling. This means no sheep should be housed within the system as manure and bedding may interfere with gates working properly. Producers can become quite frustrated when wrestling with a gate while the sheep or goats plow through the opening.

Producers should also consider some basic concepts that encourage animals to move through a handling system. Choose a location with good drainage as some sheep and goats don’t like walking in puddles or mud. Often, producers work sheep or goats through a handling system to treat foot problems. Therefore, handling systems should be placed in dry areas so that the bacteria that cause foot rot and foot scald die quickly. In addition, dry areas help to limit the amount of mud that producers must clean off feet when trimming hooves.

Producers should also identify a level area to locate the handling system. If a level area is not feasible, position the handling system so that animals move uphill from the holding area and through the system. Animals move much more readily uphill than they do downhill. Animals will also move more readily toward a lighted area. However, animals do not like to move toward a bright light shining in their eyes. For this reason, many producers position a handling system facing north or south to avoid animals moving toward bright sunlight.

Another consideration related to light would be to avoid lighting that casts shadows or bright areas onto the floor of the handling system. Sheep and goats have poor depth perception so they may perceive a shadowed area as a deep hole and may balk at crossing over the "hole" or they may perceive the shadowed area as something scary. Sheep and goats may even see objects lying across the panels of the handling system as scary. A coat lying across a handling system panel can appear very scary to any type of livestock!

Another cause for animals to balk at moving through the system relates to their ability to see actions happening ahead of them. To counter this problem, use curved panels. This not only prevents animals from seeing what’s happening ahead of them, but also takes advantage of their natural tendency to circle. Producers should also consider installing solid-sided panels so that sheep or goats cannot see what's happening outside of the chute system. Sheep and goats will follow each other more readily whenever they aren't distracted by humans working outside of the chute.

And of course, the chute panels should be high enough to prevent animals from jumping out. Gates and panels of commercial handling systems typically range from 42" to 48" in height. Panels can be constructed of many different materials, however, they should all connect strongly enough to prevent animals from breaking through the system.

Once a handling system has been constructed, walk through the system to inspect for areas that could bruise or cut an animal. Look for any bolts or other objects that stick out inside of the system. Producers can also inspect latches and gates to make sure they work properly.

Sheep and goats readily move through a well-designed handling system. Producers should take time to evaluate their handling system now rather than when sheep or goats return to the barn for routine management tasks. Even a simple adjustment to a handling system could lead to a more stress-free day working animals through a handling system.