Moving/transport sheep herd

[jambi1214]

Hello,
We are moving about 4 hours away in a few weeks and I have someone ready to haul my sheep (22 of them, half ewes half lambs about 4-6 months old) My first time hauling animals and Wondering if there are any precautions or things I should do or be aware of before/during transport? We will be traveling early morning to avoid any heat.
Thanks

 

[Baymule]

4 hours is not a bad move. I moved mine 2 years ago, it was 3 hours. It’s short enough that you don’t have to provide feed or water.

How old are the lambs? Are you moving a ram also? Does the trailer have dividers in it?

 

[Ridgetop]

What size trailer - stock or horse? Make sure there is ventilation. Moving early morning no food or water needed. If the lambs are little ones you might want to separate them from the ewes during the trip so they don't get trampled. Won't hurt them to go without nursing for that long

 

[jambi1214]

Lambs are 4 to 6 months old, avg 60-75lbs, trailer is 16 ft split down the middle longways. I really only have one smaller lamb and I was going to put her in a separate kennel in the car...Not taking any rams.

 

[Baymule]

It sounds ok to me. Do you have a barn/ pens at the new place? You might want to pen them a couple of days, to let them know that is where FEED and TREATS and HAY is.

Do you have LGDs also?

 

[jambi1214]

There is a smaller corral we are going to put them in on at arrival, while we quickly put up the electric fence, there is already five strand barbed wire but want to be sure they're extra secure. Then they go straight into pasture. We do have one lgd who I will be transporting in my car. We also have a potbelly we will hopefully be able to pen in the trailer

 

[Margali]

Are you staying inside state or crossing state lines? If you are crossing state lines, there is paperwork to fill out for legal move. Google state + animal movement to find correct details. Oklahoma to Texas was $26 for flock inspection by vet and the form. Fine if not done correctly can be $$$$.

Also, make sure every sheep has a ID of some sort. Best would be permanent flock ID tag but at minimum animal paint phone number on them and take picture of animal. Very useful for accident or if they go thru fence to prove ownership.

 

[jambi1214]

Are you staying inside state or crossing state lines? If you are crossing state lines, there is paperwork to fill out for legal move. Google state + animal movement to find correct details. Oklahoma to Texas was $26 for flock inspection by vet and the form. Fine if not done correctly can be $$$$.

Also, make sure every sheep has a ID of some sort. Best would be permanent flock ID tag but at minimum animal paint phone number on them and take picture of animal. Very useful for accident or if they go thru fence to prove ownership.

We are staying in state.