Regular sheep care, from hoof trimming to udder checks and parasite treatment, is essential but often exhausting for both sides. An animal that will not be caught without a struggle, and a farmer working with both hands busy holding it, are a recipe for stress and slow progress. The right sheep and goat equipment changes that.
Why handling sheep can be so stressful
Sheep are timid animals that startle easily at sudden movement, loud noise, or unstable footing. When they have to be caught by hand or held during a procedure, the stress quickly spreads to the rest of the flock. The result is slower work, a higher risk of injury to animals and handlers, and less thorough care.
A handling and treatment stand: both hands free to work
A handling and treatment stand is designed to automatically catch and turn a sheep sideways directly out of a drive alley. It comes in two basic sizes, and thanks to various adjustment options it suits nearly every breed. Once the animal is fixed and securely restrained, the farmer has both hands free for hoof trimming, udder checks, tail trimming, parasite treatment and other routine tasks.
Key features of the stand include optimal neck fixation, which prevents forward and backward movement, and a height-adjustable, expandable support basket that adapts to the animal's size. A swing-away device gives access to the sheep from both sides, and once work is done, the animal is simply rotated around its own axis without lifting, allowing tireless work even with larger numbers of animals. A steel tube frame and non-slip mesh flooring make the stand easy to fit into an existing drive alley.
Turning for hoof care without straining your back
For hoof work, a box that turns the sheep onto its back is particularly handy, raising the task to a comfortable working height and sparing the farmer's back. The box is adjustable in several ways to fit individual animals, and legs can optionally be tied to hooks with ropes for extra safety. Entry and exit doors lock automatically, while an extendable single-axle chassis with long lift handles makes it easy to move between barn and pasture.
Weighing and sorting without wrestling animals
A purpose-built mobile scale for sheep and young calves, with a digital display, can weigh up to 300 kg. Its robust construction stands stably even on straw bedding, and entry and exit doors lock automatically so the animal cannot leave the scale too soon.
For larger flocks, automated sorting is worth considering. A three-way weighing and sorting unit with a pneumatic system automatically sorts animals in three directions based on criteria such as animal count, weight or sex, with data recorded via electronic ear tags and ready for transfer to a computer. Thanks to an exceptionally quiet pneumatic gate control and lightweight aluminium gates, the animals stay calm, and the unit can handle up to 700 sheep per hour. Where full automation is not needed, a manual version with lightweight aluminium gates is also available for fast manual sorting.
Feed barriers and adjustable posts in the barn
Everyday care is also easier with equipment built specifically for sheep. Self-closing feed barriers have a neck opening 7.5 cm wide when closed and 20 cm wide when open, letting ewes reach their feed while keeping lambs from leaving the pen. Rubber buffers keep noise levels low, and a durable plastic panel at the bottom makes cleaning easy and extends service life.
Another innovation is a height-adjustable post that steplessly raises feed and intermediate barriers by up to 25 cm without manual lifting, useful as bedding levels rise in the barn over time. Adjustment is simple, using standard tools on a built-in hex nut.
What to consider when planning equipment
Before buying equipment for sheep care and sorting, answer the following questions:
- How large is your flock, and how often do you carry out routine procedures?
- Do you have a drive alley into which a handling stand could be fitted?
- Do you need automatic or manual sorting, given the size of your flock?
- Does the bedding level in your barn change over the season, requiring adjustable equipment?
PATURA develops this equipment specifically for sheep and goat farmers, and Kancler Sistem Pro, as its Slovenian partner, helps you put together a system matched to your barn and flock size.
Need advice?
If you are planning a race or sorting gate for your flock, tell us how many animals you keep and we will suggest a suitable layout.