Assistance setting up for sheep

3 posts
Thu, 10/06/2011 - 00:40 #1

Member for

13 years 2 months
jolls
Last seen: 01/12/2020 - 21:19
Joined: 09/23/2011 - 16:27

Assistance setting up for sheep

G'day Team,

We have just organised the purchase of two, Dorper ewes just short of two years old and three six month old Dorper ewes. The two year olds will spend the next six weeks with a Dorper ram and hopefully will come successfully joined. A Dorper ram may accompany them; this will be discussed at pick up. We expect to sell off or eat the progeny to maintain 5 breeders and a ram. Therefore we will be holding a maximum of five ewes and ten lambs during the spring. May look to improve the herd genetics down the track but that is a way off at the moment.  I have a couple of weeks to convert cattle fence to sheep fence and design and develop a handling system. No need to go over the top on the handling facilities for such a small mob; however, I certainly don't want to make life difficult for the sheep or myself either. Any thoughts on a successful layout for a small (7 acre) farm? Any other tips for new players in the sheep game?

Cheers and Beers

Jolls

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Sat, 10/29/2011 - 18:55 #2
charlie
Last seen: 12/26/2018 - 09:21
Joined: 05/31/2011 - 09:44

The best way to set up your small farm is using a laneway system. I know this may sound over the top but a laneway will serve as a secure area for moving stock, along with an area for vehicle access. A lane way if well set out will save you time (opening and closing gates) and the hassle of stock getting mixed together. Click here for a simple laneway design.

To make your fences suitable for sheep and if you already have plain wires running through steel or wood posts the quickest method is to buy some hinge joint netting 6/70/30 or 7/90/30 and run that along the length of the fence tying it up using tire wire. You will require a plain wire fence strainer, hinge joint strainer and gripples. Gripples are a great invention, quick and easy method for joining and tying of hinge joint. There are a few types of gripples, the gripple T clip is for going around strainer posts and the standard gripple is for joining hinge joint togther. Alternatively if you have electric fences with at least three wires this should be enough when charged to keep sheep in or out.

Now for the sheep yards. Apart from buying pre-fabricated panels the other option is to design and build yards using mesh and steel posts. This will be stronger than using normal hinge joint and will do the job for a small number of sheep. Make a couple of smaller yards off the end of a race. A race will be important as you will need this to handle sheep for drenching, vaccination and other management practices. Click here for a basic sheep yard design and scale it down for your needs.

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Fri, 10/14/2011 - 10:32 #3
jolls
Last seen: 01/12/2020 - 21:19
Joined: 09/23/2011 - 16:27

Charlie,

Thanks, I already have one paddock suitable for sheep and have purchased an additional 1000m of hingejoint, a wire strainer, hingejoint strainer and gripples. I intend to build a permanent race and handling yard similar to your description.

Cheers

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