Small Ruminant Handling Facilities
go.ncsu.edu/readext?877458
en Español
El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.
Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.
English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.
Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.
Collapse ▲If you have small ruminants, at some point you will need to work with them. Many common husbandry practices require close contact with individual animals, such as castration, vaccination, parasite control, and injury care. Sorting and moving animals upon arrival or departure from your farm also necessitates working with and individually sorting them. Depending on the type of operation, sometimes this includes a variety of sheep or goat ages, sizes, and temperaments. Working in enclosed spaces with small ruminants can be stressful for both the humans and animals, and in extreme cases lead to injury.
Properly designed and maintained handling facilities can improve safety and reduce stress for both humans and animals. Understanding sheep and goat physiology and how the animals perceive their environment help us better predict their movements and reduce potential issues within facilities. Considering common pitfalls and concerns can help producers of all sizes, whether you are planning a new facility or making improvements to existing ones. Evaluating and improving animal handling facilities can help save time, labor, and frustration.
Join Dr. Suzanne Leonard for a virtual Zoom on Thursday, September 22 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST to learn more about this topic. Suzanne is a native of Dugspur, Virginia and grew up on a commercial beef cattle operation. She is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Animal Science at North Carolina State University. With a BS and PhD in Agricultural Engineering, Suzanne’s work focuses on developing and utilizing technologies and data to optimize livestock housing and production.
Register using Eventbrite to receive the Zoom meeting link.
For more information, email, April Bowman, Forsyth Extension Agent, Livestock, Forages, and 4-H Youth Development at awbowman@ncsu.edu or call 336-703-2855 or Sara Drake, Davidson Extension Agent, Livestock and Forages at sadrake@ncsu.edu, 336-242-2082.
