Handling and Transport of Sheep and Goat

Handling and Restraining a sheep or goat

• The easiest way to catch an animal is bring it with food.
• If this fails a group of animals can be herded to a pen or enclosure from which the individual animal can be caught.
• This is done by approaching from the side and catching the horns, legs or neck usually succeeds.
• The sheep or goat can be man handled to a sitting position by reaching under the belly and gently holding the hind leg.
• In general it is always easier to catch one in group than an isolated individual.
• The lamb or kid alone in a pen is usually very nervous and may become berserk and injure itself by running in to the fences.
• The best way to hold the animal is by grab the loose skin in the right hind flank if you are a right handler and vice versa if you are a left handler.
• Hold the skin firmly and lift upward to control the sheep. To move a sheep hold it by the skin under the throat and place the other under the dock.
• Lift up on the dock and the sheep will move. Carrying a lamb and letting her follow can usually accompany moving an ewe and her lamb into a lambing pen.

Transport of Sheep and Goat

• Must have a valid health certificate indicating their fitness for transport and theirselves being free from any infections or contagious disease and in absence of this certificate the carrier shall refuse the consignment;
• First – aid equipment shall accompany animals in transit; males and females shall not be mixed in the same compartment.
• Only healthy animals in good conditions shall be transported.
• A qualified veterinary officer for freedom from infections and parasitic diseases and their fitness to undertake the journey shall certify these animals.
• It is desirable not to mix sheep and goats in order to avoid stampede during transportation.
• It is desirable not to mix sheep and goats in advance stage of pregnancy with kids and lambs in order to avoid stampede during transportation.
• Prior to the transportation of sheep and goats from endemic areas of zoonotic importance to non-endemic areas, necessary precautions shall be observed.
• Necessary vaccination shall be done, 14 days in advance.
• Male stock shall not be mixed with female stock in the same compartment.
• First-acid equipment shall accompany the animals in transit.
• Sufficient feed and fodder shall be carried to last during the journey. Watering facility shall be provided at regular intervals.
• All vehicles shall be inspected for safety, suitability and cleanliness before loading the animals.
• The floors and walls shall be undamaged and there shall be no nails or sharp obstruction, which might injure the animals.
• The vehicle shall be thoroughly sprayed with suitable disinfectant before loading the animals.
• Material for padding, such as straw or other suitable material shall be placed on the floor to avoid injury if an animal lies down. This shall be not less than 5 cm thick.
• The animals shall not be fettered unless there is a risk of their jumping out; typing of legs shall not be permitted.
• Each consignment shall bear a label showing the following particulars. Number and kind of animals loading.

• Name, address and telephone number if any, of the consignor
• Name, address and telephone number if any, of the consignee; and
• Quantity of rations and feed provided.
• Proper ventilation shall be provided.

• In case the journey is for more than 12 hours, an attendant shall be present at all times and shall ensure that proper conditions are maintained during transport.
• Sheep shall be unloaded and watered every hours and attendant shall not allow any sheep to sit down while truck is moving.

Loading

• While loading, the extreme temperatures of the day and night shall be avoided.
• Suitable ramps shall be provided for loading and unloading animals. The ramp should be at least 0.75 metre in width with raised side at least 0.75 metre high.
• The floor of the ramp shall clear at about 15-cm interval so those animals don’t slip as they climb or descend.
• In case of a railway wagon, when the loading is done on the platform, the dropped door of the wagon may be used as ramp. In such cases bales of bags of hay or bags of bhusa etc., may be placed on either side of the dropped door to prevent the animals from getting their legs between the sides of the wagon and platform.

Space requirement

• The space required per goat shall be the same as that for wooled sheep. The approximate space required per sheep in truck or railway wagon shall as follows,

• Overcrowding shall be avoided.
• For journey in hilly areas, suitable partitions shall be provided to avoid tramping of animals.
• Railway wagon shall not accommodate more than the following number of sheep or goats.

• In case of large trucks and wagons, partitions every two to three metres across the width may be provided to prevent much of the crowding and trapping of animals.
• In case of ewes, goats, lambs and kids under 6 weeks of age, separate panels may be provided.
• The speed of the truck shall not exceed 40 km per hour and shall avoid jerks and jolts. The truck not lads any other merchandise and shall avoid the unnecessary stops on the road.

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