Width of a sheep race

[Agri]

I was wondering what width my race should be. I will also be putting a plastic footbath in the race.

 

[neilo]

What do you want the race for? If it’s for drafting then 18-21”, with the ability to narrow the bottom to stop lambs turning round.
If it’s for working in, then a 3’ wide race works very well.

If you can only fix it at one width, then the former.

 

[Agrivator]

Ideally, the cross section of a race should be a blunt ''V'' shape. And the base of the ''V'' should be about 12" wide.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

If you can just build your guillotine gate, drafting gate and centre support with a range of holes or loops to offer flexibility and fit a wire rope above it for drench bottles etc

 

[neilo]

Ideally, the cross section of a race should be a blunt ''V'' shape. And the base of the ''V'' should be about 12" wide.

You’re running mules then?

I agree on the blunt V shape, but the width would vary with the sheep going through it. I’m looking at modifying my (fixed width ) CombiClamp race as it’s too narrow for some of the Charollais ewes. At the same time, any lambs under about 35 kg find it easy enough to turn round.

 

[puppet]

Start with the bottom the same width as the footbath, certainly not narrower. Maybe bit wider higher up to let a big ewe through. Dosing faster if you have 2 abreast and a knee behind each one as you go.

 

[Danllan]

What do you want the race for? If it’s for drafting then 18-21”, with the ability to narrow the bottom to stop lambs turning round.
If it’s for working in, then a 3’ wide race works very well.

If you can only fix it at one width, then the former.

Surely you mean '...to reduce the number of lambs turning round.' If not, give us the secret, because I can't remember the last time I had a batch through without any managing to turn round...

 

[neilo]

Surely you mean '...to reduce the number of lambs turning round.' If not, give us the secret, because I can't remember the last time I had a batch through without any managing to turn round...

There’s no secret, just adjust the width to stop them having room to turn. Only possible if you can vary the width of course, and have fairly uniform batches.
If the race has to be wide enough for woolly ewes then it will always be too wide for their lambs.

 

[Danllan]

There’s no secret, just adjust the width to stop them having room to turn. Only possible if you can vary the width of course, and have fairly uniform batches.
If the race has to be wide enough for woolly ewes then it will always be too wide for their lambs.

You mean to say, your sheep don't do somersaults?

 

[primmiemoo]

Add in joiner(s) to and from the footbath like this Modulamb one to vary the width at the base according to the size of sheep?

 

[Danllan]

Add in joiner(s) to and from the footbath like this Modulamb one to vary the width at the base according to the size of sheep?

Yep got those, although ours are IAE. Still won't stop the b^ggers somersaulting!

 

[primmiemoo]

Yep got those, although ours are IAE. Still won't stop the b^ggers somersaulting!

Guessing that you put some straw in the footbath, too, so that doesn't work for you.

Put mesh hurdles over the top, maybe? We used to use anti-reversing gates in the race for the first few goes to keep the flow of lambs steady, when footbaths were a regular thing. They seemed to get the idea, and didn't bounce through as fast or as high.

 

[Danllan]

Guessing that you put some straw in the footbath, too, so that doesn't work for you.

Put mesh hurdles over the top, maybe? We used to use anti-reversing gates in the race for the first few goes to keep the flow of lambs steady, when footbaths were a regular thing. They seemed to get the idea, and didn't bounce through as fast or as high.

I've been writing a bit tongue in cheek, , although there is very often 'one' that seems to do everything possible not to go with the flow.

Anyway, we don't need a footbath because no foot problems here, Easycares.

 

[neilo]

I've been writing a bit tongue in cheek, , although there is very often 'one' that seems to do everything possible not to go with the flow.

Anyway, we don't need a footbath because no foot problems here, Easycares.

Could the goats be the cause of the somersaulting?

 

[primmiemoo]

I've been writing a bit tongue in cheek, , although there is very often 'one' that seems to do everything possible not to go with the flow.

Anyway, we don't need a footbath because no foot problems here, Easycares.

Footbath is retired here, too. Not from buying Easycares, but homebred to be much easier to care for.

Need to edit out the puissance gene next, though.

 

[Danllan]

Could the goats be the cause of the somersaulting?

Easycares are, of course, very vigorous; jealousy will get you nowhere.

 

[neilo]

Easycares are, of course, very vigorous; jealousy will get you nowhere.

I have a hundred pure Exlanas about now, so I have been finding that out.

 

[Paul E]

Footbath is retired here, too. Not from buying Easycares, but homebred to be much easier to care for.

Need to edit out the puissance gene next, though.

Easy enough with a .22 or larger.
Or
Get yourself sat behind the fence with a 12 bore, and shout "pull" as they jump over.

 

[primmiemoo]

Easy enough with a .22 or larger.
Or
Get yourself sat behind the fence with a 12 bore, and shout "pull" as they jump over.

I'll just tell Young Dog he'd better way sharpen his retrieving skills ...

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Could the goats be the cause of the somersaulting?

The Mrs just looked at me funny for bursting out laughing with seemingly no provocation. Brilliant!!