This one is fairly similar to the one we have. The idea behind this purchase was to make manhandling of the sheep less strenuous as we get older. We wouldn't have to lift them or wrestle with them- or so we thought. The idea is to funnel the sheep from a circular holding pen that can be adjusted to make it smaller, thus supposedly forcing the sheep into the long track called the race and eventually into an end gate. Maybe a dog could entice them to move into the race, but we had to push and drag the first ones into it, and then the others started to follow. We had to repeat this for every ten sheep or so. There must be a better way! Maybe we should try putting a little corn down at the far end. Maybe it should not have been painted a bright blue which might be scary for sheep. Solid panels in the sides of the race did not help much either. Perhaps they will eventually get used to it.
Another problem was that smaller lambs could crawl underneath and escape, or they turned right around and faced the wrong way. By the time the sheep got to the end, there was about a yard of "play" so that when you tried to give a shot, they moved forward or back a yard, breaking the needles and nearly breaking my arm in the process. I then resorted to having Jim stand behind them inside the race so they could not move back, and started giving the shots from that end instead of at the head gate.
One solution would be a squeeze chute at the far end, but they cost about $1000 extra. It might be worth it.
Also, our sheep are Katahdins, so that even in winter when they are at their wooliest, they are not a wide as a traditional wool sheep breed. The race needs to be about 4-6 ins narrower.
Has anyone got any helpful hints on working with sheep handling systems? We really don't want to get another dog. We used to have border collies, but have not had one for several years now.
2 comments:
I bet if you did some food conditioning, it could work. Kinda like dairy cows that know they are going to get a scoop of grain for loading into the milking parlor.
Maybe first just feed grain at the entrance, then halfway through, then at the end- in whatever gradual steps it takes to have them conclude on their own that they are ok with it. Even if just a few sheep catch on and win the prize, the others will start to notice and follow suit.
First, don't do anything to them in the chute, but just have them "go through". Eventually they will know they get grain at the end, and will be willing to go through even if they know there is also some "treatment" that's going to happen.
At least my Katahdins are so food motivated, they learn quickly to do something for food...
I know you don't want another dog and I can understand not wanting a BC because they don't have an 'off' switch. However, have you considered an English Shepherd? Many of them have excellent on/off switch so only herd the sheep when told to. (Proper ES's herd from bond with owner and commitment to farm rules rather than from prey drive)
A properly bred ES would move & hold those sheep in place for you without being a pest the rest of the time...
Cheers, :)
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