Sheep turnover crate recommendation?

Oscar

Member
Livestock Farmer
My wife and I have a farmschool set up on the farm with around 50 ewes and a few rams which we started in autumn 2020. I spend probably 50% of my time off farm with other jobs/ work . I have been doing routine feet trimming when I am around home but the wife is saying that if she had a turnover crate , she could do feet and do it with kids and not rely on me .
So I have seen a IAE crate and know that both Bateman and Richie do one . Someone recommended the ParkerMcveigh one but not sure if that's just not a IAE ?
Any comments, remember it's my wife going to mainly use it as I know some crates are hard to pull over.
Ps Doset ewes so fairly large/ heavy.
 
We have a old ironworks one, I seem to remember having to push down with some force to grip the animal properly, after you’d positioned it correctly to be gripped, and you need some muscle to pull them over. Newer ones might be easier.
 

Al R

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Wales
We have a old ironworks one, I seem to remember having to push down with some force to grip the animal properly, after you’d positioned it correctly to be gripped, and you need some muscle to pull them over. Newer ones might be easier.
I’m guessing yours doesn’t have a mesh floor either? Mine is like that but the holding bars were removed years ago and it’s just the “ends” of the drafting race now. I wouldn’t have children anywhere near one to be honest, the sheep can wriggle free, they can flail out and kick and fingers can easily be trapped and or cut!

The IAE or Bateman vet type look better, find out what people use for AI’ing…
 

primmiemoo

Member
Location
Devon
I used to manage well with the Mk 1 WMI, but others struggled with it. I'm 5' 2" ~ shorter and much less strong than them ~ but the technique came easily once I'd learnt how to adjust it to each type of sheep coming through. Back then, there were Suffolk x, D&C Longwool, and Poll Dorset (one ram easily 17 stone), so not little animals. I don't remember using force with it. Release the brake, push carefully down, adjust so it was secure around the sheep, put brake on, foot to the lever bar, and steady pull back. Voila! Four feet presented, and a clear go for dagging if needed.

I agree about keeping children clear until they're old enough to have good reflexes (I'm going the other way, if today's anything to go by.)

Weren't there once sheep cradles that you could sit down on to tend to whatever needed doing?
 
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I’m guessing yours doesn’t have a mesh floor either? Mine is like that but the holding bars were removed years ago and it’s just the “ends” of the drafting race now. I wouldn’t have children anywhere near one to be honest, the sheep can wriggle free, they can flail out and kick and fingers can easily be trapped and or cut!

The IAE or Bateman vet type look better, find out what people use for AI’ing…
No mesh, and your right the front and rear gates are lethal for fingers or anything else.
Although I was only thinking this morning I might have to put the tups through it to tidy them up.
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
My wife and I have a farmschool set up on the farm with around 50 ewes and a few rams which we started in autumn 2020. I spend probably 50% of my time off farm with other jobs/ work . I have been doing routine feet trimming when I am around home but the wife is saying that if she had a turnover crate , she could do feet and do it with kids and not rely on me .
So I have seen a IAE crate and know that both Bateman and Richie do one . Someone recommended the ParkerMcveigh one but not sure if that's just not a IAE ?
Any comments, remember it's my wife going to mainly use it as I know some crates are hard to pull over.
Ps Doset ewes so fairly large/ heavy.

If you really feel the need to fettle feet then I’d echo the above posts re kids. Whatever the crate, sheep do thrash on occasion and kick out unexpectedly. I wouldn’t want a child anywhere near one tbh.

I used to have a Bateman, where the height was adjustable. If set up right for the sheep, it meant the balance point was right so that it didn’t take much effort to pull it over once clamped. It was more effort to lift them back over & upright afterwards tbh. I eventually sold it as unused for years, but apppreciate you might want to have everything looking neatly clipped if open to the townie public.🤐.
 

andybk

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Mendips Somerset
we have always had the ironwork ones , the latest is the best but heavy , great to leave in place and easy to use for any size person, dont do many feet in it these days , but is great to turn ewes and do an mot at weaning, teeth udder and feet and defiantly for the stock rams if they need turning ,was perfect for stitching one up that had a nasty cut in his armpit last summer when he got caught in a fence upside down , gets used for doing teasers (by vet) as they are presented perfectly , and is used for sponging etc (we havnt done any for 4 or 5 years though) , well made and worth every penny though needs to be in a static set-up
 
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Bald n Grumpy

Member
Livestock Farmer
As I've already said Bateman would be my choice, Had the use of one for a short while and wish I'd found the £££ to keep it.
Got a head yoke which means you can drench ,bolus, tag etc it swing's the arse end out for dagging and finally it tips to do feet plus it's raised of the ground a bit so saves the back a bit
Seriously thinking about trying for one on the welsh grant scheme
 

Oscar

Member
Livestock Farmer
I really like TFF and the knowledge on here but yet again certain people have to answer with "smart arse " replies which makes me think " why do I bother " and I m sure there have hundreds of people who have joined but then left because of this !
The question was : recommend a turnover crate please not to give me a lecture in sheep husbandry.
It's the same people every time , if you can t answer the question then don't reply !
Rant over .
Just been to a auctioneer collection sale with a old, rough WM turnover crate but it ran upto £450, so left alone . New is £950.
 

JockCroft

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
JanDeGrootLand
Agree with first paragraph @Oscar.
I bought a second hand Ironworks last year. Has its niggles but tilt and turn quickly does most ewes. Turn slowly and they will twist.
It takes a bit of practice, but gives good access to hoof's. Much easier on the back.
Most sheep settle after half a minute and let work be done. They will kick so watch out.

It beats manual turning and trimming by a mile. Not perfect, but what in life is?
 
I really like TFF and the knowledge on here but yet again certain people have to answer with "smart arse " replies which makes me think " why do I bother " and I m sure there have hundreds of people who have joined but then left because of this !
The question was : recommend a turnover crate please not to give me a lecture in sheep husbandry.
It's the same people every time , if you can t answer the question then don't reply !
Rant over .
Just been to a auctioneer collection sale with a old, rough WM turnover crate but it ran upto £450, so left alone . New is £950.

I think I paid £350 for ours so if you want to get near that it’s yours.
 

Al R

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Wales
trimming feet :scratchhead:,,,was that then:scratchhead:

# smug😁
I really like TFF and the knowledge on here but yet again certain people have to answer with "smart arse " replies which makes me think " why do I bother " and I m sure there have hundreds of people who have joined but then left because of this !
The question was : recommend a turnover crate please not to give me a lecture in sheep husbandry.
It's the same people every time , if you can t answer the question then don't reply !
Rant over .
Just been to a auctioneer collection sale with a old, rough WM turnover crate but it ran upto £450, so left alone . New is £950.
I have near 1,000 10/11 year olds visit me a year which we have spoken about before I’m sure - before you started and I highlighted H&S and Cryptosporidium risks etc.. there is no way I would let childreb near a turnover crate with how I remember sheep in the one I have, they could flail and unless you got seriously close where you got pushed away as opposed to full on kick (like walking close to a cow) Plus the nails become sharp once trimmed.
 

Oscar

Member
Livestock Farmer
Point taken @Al R . However :
We have SEN kids here and have now got a couple blind kids coming . I know I did NT mention it before but we also sponge ewes, AI ewes and alot of the kids respond to touch therapy so a secondary reason to buy a crate is to actually just use it as a clamp so the ewe can t move to allow eg the blind boys the chance to touch and feel its wool without the ewe moving for instance .
Anyhow , will see how things go . Got a good grant , so will see what's available and timescale for delivery .
 

Oscar

Member
Livestock Farmer
Hi @Cab-over Pete , thanks for your help and offer .
I need to research some other makes so see how it goes but if anybody else is intrested in buying it then crack on .
One thing though , maybe if you could post a pic sometime please ??😀
 

Al R

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Wales
Point taken @Al R . However :
We have SEN kids here and have now got a couple blind kids coming . I know I did NT mention it before but we also sponge ewes, AI ewes and alot of the kids respond to touch therapy so a secondary reason to buy a crate is to actually just use it as a clamp so the ewe can t move to allow eg the blind boys the chance to touch and feel its wool without the ewe moving for instance .
Anyhow , will see how things go . Got a good grant , so will see what's available and timescale for delivery .
Like I said above I’d look at an IAE/Bateman type VET clamp which is used or AI etc as they have to keep the animal totally constrained. Well done for doing what your doing though! I’m sure once sheep get used to it they must settle down, where as when we used to use ours Ironworks crate it was almost a once in a lifetime experience for the sheep
 

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