Why all sheep and goat producers need a handling system...
A handling system that works…at low prices!
For years we were told: "Your equipment is great but it's expensive!" Back then we had no options. Now we do.
We can now offer it for much less—so much less that we can, if your order is large enough, ship galvanized equipment to you for the same cost that you would pay at a show for painted equipment—with less hassle for you.
Why all producers need a handling system…
It never ceases to amaze us that so few US sheep and goat producers have serious handling setups—and fewer still have a good one. Visit any sheep operation in England, Australia or New Zealand and you will find such setups—be it mobile or fixed. But not in North America.
Here are a few of the benefits…
- Treat more animals in less time.
- Treat, sort, deworm and/or tag with little risk of injury.
- Requires less strength, effort and frustration to treat animals.
- Less stress on animals, you and your family. Because you control the animals (instead of the other way around), working them is more satisfying.
- Keeps more animals alive and thriving. Why? Because deworming, vaccinations, foot treatments, sorting, etc. can all be done when the animals need it. No need to wait until the entire "on-farm" wrestling team is available.
How do handling systems work?
Good handling systems work with animal instincts to make animals make the choices that you/we want. Livestock, because they are "prey animals," try to keep their distance from threats. So they prefer to:
- Move from smaller to larger spaces.
- Avoid people and dogs (threats!).
- Follow each other when threatened—even if they can't see where the "lead" animal is going.
These basic points dictate the gate choices:
- Open-bar or welded wire panels allow animals to see each other. So animals feel safe and move readily into pens with "open walls".
- Conversely, solid panels block vision. So animals feel less safe and move toward openings. That's why chutes have solid panels—to encourage forward movement to daylight.
Visit this link to see a diagram of a small and large handling system, and to learn why Premier's handling systems compare favorably to others.