Goat and Sheep Restraint

Sheep restraint

Sheep are timid animals. They do not seem to enjoy being stroked or petted

The usual response is to flee when frightened and they may cause serious injury to themselves in their effort to escape

Sheep have extremely strong flocking instincts and tend to behave as a group

When catching sheep, several points are key

Individual sheep need to be separated from the flock: this is often done by first driving the flock into an enclosure pen, then cornering a single sheep against a fence or wall.

The sheep may try to flee by going through the fence or climbing along the fence or wall

Another common tendency to avoid is catching them by grabbing the wool: this can easily pull out the wool and bruise or rip the skin

Grabbing by the horns (when present) must be done with care to avoid breaking them

Sheep are held by circling the neck with one arm and placing the other arm around the rump

The rear end may also be controlled by placing an arm over the back to grasp the skin fold of the lower flank

Many procedures can be done by simply backing the sheep into a corner, straddling the animal between the handler’s legs, and squeezing the sheep shoulders firmly between the legs.

The head or neck can be controlled in this position

Procedures such as examination of the hooves, shearing, and vaccination require immobilizing the animal with a technique known as “setting up”

This method esentially sits the sheep down on its rump: without contact the feet with the ground, the animal cannot struggle and basically becomes submissive to the handler

Lamb restraint

Small lambs are carried by placing one hand under the body and between the forelimbs to support the sternum, and other hand around the neck

Castration and tail docking are performed at an early age, usually in the first to second week of life

For these procedures, the lamb is restrained in dorsal recumbency with its back in the handler’s lap or against the handler’s body.

Diagnostic sampling

The jugular vein is most often used for venous sampling.

In sheep it may be accesed with the animal standing or in the “set-up” rump position

Goat restraining

Although similar to sheep in size, goats are entirely different in temperament and behavior.

Goats are gregarious and seem to enjoy the company of other species of animals

Goats form social hierarchy within a group and dominant males and females can be identify

Goats may show aggression, usually in the form of head-butting. This usually preceded by raising the hair on the spine, stamping the front feet and making a characteristic sneezing/snorting noise

One hand is used to grasp the beard while other arm is placed around the neck to control the head

Horns If the horns are

present, they may be used for head restraining

Horns should be restrained near their base

Goats resent being held by the ears, and owners consider ear restraining to be abusive

Another method is to stand alongside the goat and hold the muzzle in one hand; the other hand reaches over the back and grasp the near hind leg.

* If you have a good back!!!

Neck collars

Goats readily accept neck collars or chains, which provide a convenient hold on the animal.

Goats do not tolerate being set up like sheep

Small kids are usually held in the lap for procedures such as dehorning

The kid is placed in sternal recumbency on the lap by folding its front legs beneath it and the handler’s forearms are placed on the back and pressed down to keep the kid for rising