Sheep – handling
Information about handling, training and showing sheep.
Schools that keep sheep must have the use of suitably constructed yards and a race. These yards and race may be portable but must be solid in construction and erected in a way to be safe for both humans and sheep.
Fences, gateways, gates and all facilities used to handle sheep must be constructed and maintained to reduce the risk of injury.
Sheep must not be lifted off the ground by only one leg, or by the head, ears, horns, neck, tail or wool, unless in an emergency.
Sheep that are not standing must not be dragged by only one leg, ears, tail or wool, unless in an emergency.
If a dog is used with sheep, then it must be under control of the teacher, farm assistant or person in charge of the activity, at all times. If the dog habitually bites sheep it must be muzzled while working sheep.
| Approved activities | Category |
|---|---|
| Observation of animal behaviour | 1 |
| Observation of particular animal behaviours, e.g. oestrus, parturition | 2 |
Sheep are a species that are preyed upon. This means they feel more comfortable in a flock as this provides comfort and protection. Individuals will become stressed if isolated from the rest of their flock. It is important to avoid getting in between an isolated animal and its flock as the animal will feel vulnerable and want to return as quickly as possible to its flock. This behavioural trait can be used while mustering as one sheep will want to follow the others.
Watch Importance of observation of sheep behaviour. (2:28)
Narrator: Boyd Holden – livestock handler
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Sheep are small, defenceless animals. Their domestication has been dependent on us protecting them from predators. So, when approaching sheep whether it be on motorbike or on foot ensure that you do it in such a way it doesn’t startle them.
Before you approach the sheep stand back and observe their normal behaviour, this will help you determine their flight zone. So, that when you approach the sheep and they move away their reaction will tell you how you need to handle them and more importantly how much pressure to apply to get them and more importantly how much pressure to apply to get them to do what you want them to do.
Observing livestock is an essential skill that good stock people need to have, taking care of them is also very important. Make sure that you have a good attitude when handling livestock and this is good for them and also good for the people that you’re working with.
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Sheep have wide angle vision of 191 to 306 degrees. It is important to take this into consideration when handling sheep. Loading ramps and races should always have solid walls to prevent animals from being able to see distractions with their wide-angle vision. Animals can be frightened or balk if they see moving objects and people outside of the race especially if they are not completely tame or unaccustomed to the facility. Blocking the sheep’s vision will prevent escape attempts.
Sheep’s wide angle vision gives them a blind spot behind them. Standing in the animal's blind spot for too long will cause the animal to turn and face the handler, stopping forward movement.
Sheep have a flight zone that will influence how they can be handled depending on whether they have a large or small flight zone. Sheep will have a decreased flight zone after extensive handling when they feel comfortable around the handler and in handling facilities.
Watch The flight zone of sheep. (1:32)
Narrator: Boyd Holden – livestock handler
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The flight zone is the distance that the sheep want to maintain between us and them. We can influence this on the way that we approach the animals and the amount of movement that we use.
As you can see when we walk through the sheep quietly and calmly that they move away from us. This distance is referred to as a flight zone.
You can clearly see that the flight zone around us is perfectly round. By increasing our movement we can increase the distance of the flight zone between us and the animals.
The more movement, the bigger the distance. If we take the movement away, the distance will get smaller. The flight zone is always round and this helps us to understand that sheep move around us in a curve.
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In areas where sheep are handled, illumination should be uniform and shadows and bright spots minimised. For this reason it is much better to have sheep moving across the slats on the floor of shearing sheds rather than along the slats. Flapping objects or items such as clothing hanging on a race may stop animal movement.
Sheep have a tendency to move from a dimly lit area, to a brighter lit area. For example a light shining into the entrance of a loading ramp or truck will encourage the sheep to move towards the lit area providing the light is not shining directly into the animals’ eyes.
Facilities should be a complete uniform colour as a sudden change in colour on the walls of a facility may cause animals to balk or stop suddenly.
Sheep have depth perception, however their ability to perceive depth at ground level while moving with their heads up, is poor. To see depth at ground level the animals will lower their heads and stop to look at a drain or change of surface texture on the ground. This means that when moving sheep, allow time for them to lower their heads and look at an object or changed surface. With time they will generally move forward with limited pressure.
Four principles that are important when working with sheep are:
- Position. The position of the handler in relation to the eye of the sheep is extremely important. This means that the handler should always work animals on the side.
- Pressure. Whatever pressure is applied must be released. This translates into moving towards the animal then moving away, stopping the movement of the livestock talker and reducing the number of people in the yards.
- Movement. This can be increasing or decreasing the movement of the handler’s body or livestock talker. Jumping, waving or using a livestock talker are all acceptable and effective ways of increasing movement. Sticks, flags and livestock talkers should be used as extensions of the handler’s body. They should not be used as a tool to hit animals with.
- Communication. It is essential that the handler communicates clearly to the sheep and to the other handlers.
The way that sheep behave during handling is a result of:
- the amount of handling they have had
- the quality of that handling
- their genetics.
Mustering, drafting, capture and handling of sheep
| Approved activities | Category |
|---|---|
| Mustering, drafting (in crush or bail head), capture, restraint and handling of non-free-living domesticated animals (leading or riding an appropriately trained animal). | 3 |
| Familiarisation | 2 |
Best practice mustering and handling starts with good preparation. This involves setting up gates to allow flow and movement but always aiming to have control of the sheep movement. This requires a balance between having gates open and/or closed at the chosen points.
It is essential that livestock handlers maintain good communication between each other and that all facilities and equipment that will be needed for the job are prepared and in good working order.
Mustering involves gathering up individual animals and groups of animals and bringing them together. Sheep have a natural flocking behaviour and the activity of mustering should take advantage of this. It is important that sheep walk not run when being mustered. Sheep that run to yards end up being agitated and need to be rested before they can be worked again.
Extra care should be taken when handling pregnant ewes, lambs, lame sheep and rams.
It is essential that the handler knows exactly how many animals fit comfortably into each of the yards, the force and the race. This increases the efficiency of yard work and decreases the chance of injury to animals and humans.
Watch Mustering sheep into yards. (2:28)
Narrator: Boyd Holden – livestock handler
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Now that you’ve gathered the sheep into a herd, make sure that everybody knows what their positions are. Moving the sheep at a good steady pace like a walk is far better for the sheep and you than running because when the sheep arrive at the yards they’ll be far more relaxed and easier to handle.
To help you to do this have someone in the lead, they will set direction and help with the pace of the livestock. The person at the rear will use position and movement to help with direction and maintain a steady flow.
When approaching gateways consider how you are going to set your gates. Ensure that the gates do not either cause injury or interrupt the flow of the livestock. The position of people when approaching gates needs to be such that not everybody is at the back of the flock or herd, someone needs to go up the front to influence the first four or five animals through the gateway and then step back in such a position using parallel movement to regulate the flow and pace of the livestock through the gate.
Apply enough pressure to the sheep in the yard to create a leader. Once you have a leader, step back into position where you can use parallel movement to regulate the flow and pace of the sheep so that you can count them from yard to yard. It is important that you know how many sheep are in each section of the yard. That is how many sheep do I fit in the race, how many sheep do I fit in the force, this will help you work the sheep effectively and safely.
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Particular care should be taken when catching or restraining a segregated sheep, especially rams, as they can become aggressive and may cause injury.
It is best to return sheep to feed and water sources as quickly as possible after mustering and yarding.
Information about yard design can be found at Sheep yards and equipment.
The position of the handler in yards is extremely important if drafting and moving sheep into the race is to be achieved with minimal stress. Livestock tend to curve around the handler to avoid pressure, to maintain the handler in their field of vision for as long as possible and to avoid having the handler in their blind spot.
Parallel movement can be used to draft animals from pen to pen, to count animals and to move animals along a race.
Watch Using parallel movement to move sheep. (1:36)
Narrator: Boyd Holden – livestock handler
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It is instinctive for herd animals to curve around us. So, use this when moving sheep from yard to yard. Make sure that you are inside the curve and that they curve around you through the gateway and into the yard.
They curve around us and unfamiliar objects so they can always see us, they want to see us for as long as possible and keep us out of their blind spot.
To fill the race use parallel movement. Parallel movement in the opposite direction to the sheep moves them forward. It is our direction and movement which moves the sheep forward.
To do this you can use a livestock talker or just use your body and movement to move the sheep. Knowing the number of sheep that fit in the race and using parallel movement you can now comfortably close the gate without harming the sheep.
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Sometimes assistance to move sheep can be gained by the use of dogs, livestock talkers and goads. These are tools and rely on correct usage by the handler.
Watch Handling aids for moving livestock. (2:47)
Narrator: Boyd Holden – livestock handler
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Having an understanding of livestock behaviour and the principles that influence their movement is the primary driver in communicating with animals. There are many aids to assist you in moving livestock.
These aids are commonly referred to as goads, implements or tools. Their purpose is to help you move the livestock to where you want them to go. They should not be the primary means of moving the livestock.
These aids include paddles, flappers, flags and dogs. While some aids make noise, a good livestock aid’s primary effect should be visual. This is referring to the position of the aid in relation to the animal’s point of balance and flight zones, individually and as a herd.
The aid is an extension of the handler’s body so it can assist in applying and releasing pressure to the animal by its proximity to the animal. Increased movement of the aid can also assist to increase the movement and flow of the livestock.
The visual aid can be used to accentuate the handler’s position when using parallel movement to move stock along the race.
Dogs are a great tool to help move livestock from mustering in the paddock, moving stock from yard to yard, into sheds and along races. Good working dogs have natural instinctive ability to work livestock effectively. These dogs have been selected for these desirable characteristics providing valuable assistance to the livestock industry. Dogs influence or move livestock in several ways.
Firstly, they influence livestock by being a predator. This means that by their mere presence they can influence the behaviour of animals. In addition an effective dog uses movement, applying and releasing pressure and parallel movement to influence livestock to where we want them to go. Remember, the handler must always remain in control of the dog.
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During dry weather sprinklers or misters should be used in yards to settle the dust.
Sheep should be returned to feed and water as soon as possible after handling. Unnecessary sheep handling should be avoided during extreme weather.
Watch Best practice sheep handling. (7:23)
Narrator: Boyd Holden – livestock handler
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Hello, I’m Boyd Holden, a Livestock Handling Consultant and I’m here at Trangie Research Station to share with you the tools that we are going to use for livestock handling. We’re here creating a learning resource about handling sheep and cattle.
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Sheep are small, defenceless animals. Their domestication and survival has been dependent on man as their protector. Sheep are herding animals which means that they seek comfort and protection by being with each other and preferably in large numbers. Understanding their instinctive behaviour is an essential part of handling sheep. Because of their small size and vulnerability they have a greater tendency than cattle to want to be with and follow their own kind. So, when handling and moving sheep remember the simple fact that sheep like following other sheep. This underpins efficient and humane handling.
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Before you head off to get the livestock you must have a plan, have the yards and equipment prepared and communicate clearly with your fellow workers their roles and responsibilities. Remember, we are not chasing the sheep, we are communicating with them by applying pressure and releasing it and using their flight zone.
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It is our movement and position that stimulates individual and herd movement. Vision is the main sense which livestock use to communicate with each other and it is the one that we are using to move livestock. Always remember if they can see you, you can influence them.
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Okay, Hannah if you go around to your right and open the gate up please, just open the gates just like we’ve done every day.
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You right there Aaron?
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Just give me a little jump, don’t go forward to your right, just give me a jump.
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Just stay there Hannah, that’s good.
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Give me a jump Hannah. Bigger jump than that. Bigger jump Hannah.
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Just take them back to the gate so they can see where they came from.
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A good stock person knows how many sheep can comfortably fit in each yard force or race. This is important because it ensures efficient and safe handling and maximises animal welfare. To help you do this count the number of sheep as you move them from yard to yard, yard to force and force to race. Yep, that’s it, great, fantastic. Understanding how sheep respond to us helps us understand how to move them. By using the instinctive behaviour of sheep to curve around us and our parallel movement to speed up or to slow them down we can easily count sheep, move them from yard to yard and along the race. We can use aids like a livestock talker, a dog or by simply increasing our body movement to help us get the response we want.
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As you can see when we walk through the sheep quietly and calmly that they move away from us. This distance is referred to as a flight zone. You can clearly see that the flight zone around us is perfectly round. By increasing our movement we can increase the distance of the flight zone between us and the animals. The more movement, the bigger the distance. If we take the movement away, the distance will get smaller. The flight zone is always round and this helps us to understand that sheep move around us in a curve. Sheep should be returned to their paddocks in the same quiet, steady manner that they were moved from their paddock.
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It is a good idea moving stock to the same or different paddock to take them to water before you leave them. Before you leave them make sure that the livestock are calm and settled. This is very important.
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Catch, restrain and throw sheep
In order to perform procedures like hoof trimming, crutching, teeth inspections, wool quality tests and ear tag checking, a sheep will have to be caught and restrained. Catch and throw is a good method of restraining an individual animal.
It is best to start in a small clean yard with the individual animals that you wish to restrain. Take care not to pull the wool throughout the procedure as this can bruise the sheep and damage the wool. Rams should only be handled by an experienced person, as they are larger and may be aggressive especially during the breeding season.
Catch and restrain
Catch the sheep with one hand on the rump and the other under the muzzle, keeping the sheep as close as possible to your legs.
If necessary, straddle the sheep to properly restrain it.
Catch and throw
- Catch the sheep with one hand on the rump and the other under the muzzle.
- Turn the sheep’s head around as far as possible away from yourself.
- Pivot yourself backwards around with the sheep following. The sheep will go down on its rump.
- Lean the sheep against your knees and apply pressure with both knees in order to secure the sheep in a grip.
- To release the sheep, let it drop onto its front legs. It will quickly regain a standing position.
Showing sheep
| Approved activities | Category |
|---|---|
| Familiarisation | 2 |
| Training/gentling | 3 |
| Training for competition or showing | 3 |
| Tethering/restraining for shows | 3 |
| Coat care and grooming | 2 |
| Coat/fleece clipping | 3 |
| Hoof paring: sheep & goats | 3 |
| Loading and unloading animals onto transporters | 3 |
| Showing animals at school and away | 3 |
Time and effort needs to be put into training animals for the show ring. Training is best done slowly from a young age. Sheep suitable for showing need to be specially selected based on their temperament as well as their conformation. Sheep need to be introduced to the halter slowly once they are accustomed to the atmosphere naturally created by groups of students.
When sheep are taken to shows it is the responsibility of the teacher or staff member in charge of the sheep to check that the movements have been recorded on the NLIS database. Many show societies complete these recordings but this is not guaranteed and so schools must ensure that movements both to and from the show have been recorded.
