Key Questions to Ask When Ordering Sheep Yard Panel

Fall and early Winter, when the seasonal workload lessens, is often a good time to focus on our sheep supply inventory. We usually think of this when getting ready for lambing, but as shepherds we should always be prepared throughout the year for emergencies, mishaps, and unforeseen circumstances. Having some key supplies on-hand can prevent undue delay in necessary treatment and management of your flock. Following is a list of important items shepherds should have on hand, including basic handling equipment.

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Support Network

Veterinarian – Probably the most important “tool” is a good working relationship with a veterinarian. It’s best to establish a relationship with a veterinarian before one is needed. Delayed treatment can result in prolonged injury, illness, or death. Building a trusted relationship between shepherd and veterinarian should begin well before lambing season. Schedule a farm visit/consultation and be prepared with questions regarding protocols for common problems and what medications or supplies are recommended.

County Extension and/or conservation district – These groups are a valuable resource and can provide support with pasture management, nutrition, manure management, fencing, water resources, etc.

Equipment & Facilities

Crook – A crook is very handy when attempting to catch an individual animal. Neck and leg crooks are available.

Fence panels – Portable sheep fence panels can be used to build pens for various uses. Metal or wood can be used, as long as they can be moved easily. Even sections of hog panels can be used in a pinch. You frequently don’t need a permanent pen, just the ability to set one up, preferably in shade, when needed.

• Catch pen – Catching sheep in an open field is nearly impossible and stressful for both the sheep and shepherd. Having the ability to confine the animals in a small space makes the job much easier and safer.
• Chute – A step beyond a catch pen, a chute allows you to line up a group of sheep and work more quickly when giving routine vaccinations, checking eyes, etc.
• Isolation pen – All new arrivals and any animals that show signs of a contagious disease, such as CL, should be quarantined, preferably in a pen where surfaces can be disinfected as needed. Ideally this would be in a separate building, or in an area of the main barn well separated from the resident animals. You can use an animal that you are planning on culling as a companion for sheep in isolation.
• Sick Pen – It’s handy to have a pen available to separate sick animals or those needing ongoing treatment. Animals with suspected infectious disease should be housed in an isolation pen. Since sheep are flock animals, they can be incredibly stressed when kept alone. Your pen should be big enough to hold a companion animal or located within sight of the rest of the flock.

Halter – A means to secure an animal is important. This can be with done with a rope halter, special sheep halter, neck rope or collar and lead. Animals should not be left tied up unsupervised as they can injure or strangle themselves.

Headgate for ewes – Useful if a ewe rejects a lamb, or to aid in grafting an unrelated lamb.

Mineral feeder- Loose mineral should be available to sheep at all times. A special feeder keeps the mineral clean and dry.

Water tanks/automatic waterers/buckets – Sheep should always have access to fresh, clean water. This is especially important for lactating ewes, when feeding hay, and in hot weather.

Basic Supplies

Drench gun – Used to administer liquid oral meds, specifically dewormers, they are available in various sizes from 10cc to 60cc. It’s good to have several in different sizes on hand.

Hoof trimmers – The frequency of hoof trimming is dependent on climate, terrain, nutrition, and genetics. Most shepherds trim at least once per year. It’s important to inspect hooves regularly for overgrowth, splitting or signs of infection. The hooves of ewes and breeding rams should be inspected and/or trimmed a few weeks prior to breeding. A tilt table or hoof trimming deck chair can facilitate hoof trimming by restraining the animal.

Latex gloves – Disposable gloves reduce the risk of transferring bacteria from sheep to human and from human to sheep. They are especially important when treating open wounds or suspected infectious diseases and when assisting with lambing or collecting fecal samples.

Marking crayon – Marking sticks or chalk are handy to temporarily mark animals when sorting, treating, or collecting samples.

Needles– It’s useful to have several sizes of needles; 20g and 18g are common. Smaller gauges are larger needles and work best with thicker medications like antibiotics, while higher gauge needles are smaller and work well with vaccines.

Plastic boots – Disposable plastic boot covers are an inexpensive way to enhance biosecurity for visitors to the farm or when visiting other farms. Disinfectant boot wash is an alternative.

Scale – A hanging lamb scale can be used to weigh newborn and young lambs. A livestock scale is useful for weighing older lambs and adults. Having accurate weights is important for calculating medication and deworming doses and for monitoring growth.

Syringes – It’s useful to have several sizes of syringes, such as 3cc, 6cc, and 12cc for various medications.

Thermometer – Normal rectal temperature for sheep is 102.5 degrees F. There is variation between animals and during extremely hot or cold weather. Consult your veterinarian for temperatures that are concerning and may require treatment.

Lambing

Betadine/Triadine – Helps disinfect and dry naval cords and can be used as an antiseptic for minor cuts/scrapes.

Bottles/nipples – Used to supplement colostrum and/or milk when a ewe’s milk flow is inadequate or absent. They are also used to feed orphan lambs. Pritchard teats are smaller and widely used on very young lambs and fit many beverage bottles.

Calcium supplement – Available in oral paste or sterile liquid for IM/IV use. Consult your veterinarian for treatment protocol and dosage.

Castrating tools – Used to castrate lambs. A ring expander with “o” rings is used on young lambs 2-7 days old. The ring acts as a tourniquet to stop the blood flow to the scrotum, which will slough off in 7-14 days. An emasculator can be used to crush the spermatic cords on somewhat older lambs.

Colostrum replacer and/or supplement – It is important that lambs receive adequate colostrum within the first few hours after birth as they lose the ability to absorb the antibodies in colostrum after 24 hours. Colostrum replacer and supplement are different products for different uses and having some on hand is cheap insurance. Replacer is designed for use when the ewe has little or no colostrum, while colostrum supplement provides supplemental immunity and nutrition to the newborn lambs of ewes who have colostrum but not enough.

Ear Tags – Used to identify individual animals. Lambs are usually tagged at or around birth. Blank tags with handwritten ID’s are needed when an animal loses their original tag. Official USDA Scrapie tags are necessary for any animal leaving the farm and require a State Premises ID.

Feeding tube/catheter tip syringe – When lambs are weak and unwilling or unable to nurse, a feeding tube can be used to get colostrum into the lamb quickly. The ewe can be milked directly into most 60cc or 120cc catheter tip syringes. If lambs are really cold, you should warm them up before tube feeding. Never try to tube feed an unconscious lamb.

Lamb puller and/or OB leg snare – Aids in delivery of large lambs or malpresentations.

Lamb sling and scale – A handheld scale is used with a lamb sling or cradle for birth weights on newborn lambs. Most can be used on lambs up to 40-60 lbs, although a larger sling may be necessary.

Lime – Garden lime neutralizes urine ammonia in wet bedding/soil and is especially useful in lambing jugs to prevent respiratory problems in newborn lambs.

Lubricant – Protects delicate tissue by reducing friction from hands and gloves and makes dry lambs easier to pull with less tissue damage to the ewe. It is useful when cleaning off and replacing prolapses and collecting fecal samples. KY-Jelly or OB lubricant can be used and is usually available from farm supply stores. Soap should not be used as a lubricant as it can dry out sensitive tissue.

Milk replacer – Milk replacer is used for orphan lambs or to supplement lambs from large litters. It does not have the same nutrients as colostrum replacer, and the two should not be used interchangeably.

Nutri-drench or similar concentrated vitamin and energy supplement – This is especially useful for weak or cold lambs and can even be used for older animals stressed by pregnancy toxemia, parasites, or any condition where the sheep is off feed.

Panels to create lambing jugs – Panels can be metal or wood but should be light enough to move easily. A 5’x5′ pen is sufficient for most situations. Be sure the openings are small enough that a lamb can’t squeeze through or get a head caught.

Prolapse harness – A vaginal prolapse is a protrusion of the ewe’s vagina through the vulva. When properly fitted, a prolapse harness prevents the ewe from straining and pushing out the prolapse again. Success is best achieved if treated early when the prolapse is small. Although a ewe should be able to lamb past a prolapse harness, it’s best to remove when the ewe is in labor.

Propylene glycol – Emergency treatment for twin lambing disease (pregnancy toxemia). Consult a veterinarian for treatment protocol and dosage.

Towels – Clean towels in various sizes can be used to dry off hands and wet, chilled newborn lambs when needed or to improve grip when pulling slippery lambs.

Warming devices – A way to warm chilled lambs, such as heat lamps, coats (either purchased or cut from old sweatshirt sleeves), warming box or warming bottles. Each method has its own pros and cons.

Therapeutics and First Aid

Antibiotics: (currently available over the counter):

• Penicillin G Procaine injectable – Used for treatment of pneumonia, mastitis & other bacterial infections.
• Oxytetracycline injectable – Used for treatment of respiratory infections, hoof infections, pinkeye, and other bacterial infections.
• Terramycin ophthalmic ointment – Used for treatment of pinkeye and other bacterial eye infections.
• Prescription Antibiotics – Several broad-spectrum antibiotics are available by Rx only.

Anti-inflammatory (Banamine, Prevail, Meloxicam) – Treatment for pain, inflammation, and fever reduction (requires prescription).

Antiseptics – Livestock supply stores provide a variety of antiseptic sprays, solutions, and ointments for use on sheep. Use as directed.

Bloat Treatment – Most common in bottle lambs. A premixed bloat treatment can be purchased; or use a baking soda & water mixture given via feeding tube.

Dewormers – There are three common classes of anthelmintics (dewormers): benzimidazoles or “white dewormers” (Valbazen, Safeguard); macrocyclic lactones (Ivomec, Cydectin); and imidathiazoles (levamisole, Prohibit). For more information on parasitism and proper use of dewormers see https://www.wormx.info/

Dextrose – For administration of fluids/carbohydrates and as a sterile solution for the administration of IV medications.

Leg splints – Purchased splints can be used or you can use tongue depressors or pipe insulation sleeves and PVC pipe (cut in two pieces) with cotton padding depending on the size needed.

Sharps container- All sharps (i.e., needles, scalpel blades, etc.) must be disposed of properly in a puncture-proof and leak-proof container. These can be purchased at Walmart or a farm supply store. A hard plastic household container, such as an empty bleach container, can be used. For more details on proper disposal see https://extension.sdstate.edu/where-do-sharps-go

Vitamins/Minerals:

• Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin A/D, Calcium – Used to correct nutritional and vitamin/mineral deficiencies.
• Thiamine (Vitamin B1) – For thiamine deficiency and treatment of polio in sheep (requires prescription).
• Selenium – For prevention of selenium deficiency in sheep and lambs (requires prescription).

Vaccinations:

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• CD&T vaccine – For vaccinating healthy sheep and lambs against enterotoxemia and tetanus. An annual booster is usually given to adult ewes during the last month of pregnancy. Lambs are immunized at 4-8 weeks old and again 2-4 weeks later. Adult rams should be given a booster annually. Consult your veterinarian for recommended vaccine against clostridial types endemic in your area.
• Other vaccines are available for sheep – These include pneumonia, abortion agents, CL, and others. Not all farms need to use them, but they can be beneficial on farms that have problems with these diseases. Again, consult your veterinarian for advice.

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Vet Wrap – Used to wrap and stabilize leg injuries or to secure dressings.

Breeding

Marking Harness and Crayons – Marking crayons make visible marks on the ewes to indicate which have been mounted during breeding. Crayons can be used on all the rams, changing to a different color after 15-17 days to identify any ewes that are cycling a second time. Another option is to only use the marking harness on the cleanup ram to identify open ewes. In smaller flocks, it’s possible to write down the ear tag numbers and calculate estimated lambing dates.

Raddle Paint – Serves the same purpose as a marking harness and works well on smaller ram lambs. Can be purchased pre-mixed or as a powder to combined with an oil, then rubbed onto the ram’s brisket. It needs to be applied every 2-5 days, so you’ll need a way to catch the ram to reapply.

Finally, always have a plan to humanely euthanize sheep that are beyond help or lambs with severe birth defects. Include a plan to dispose of the carcass safely and legally.

By: EAPK Communications Committee

Introduction

Producers who understand sheep behaviour can use this knowledge to their advantage in all aspects of sheep production and management. Whether setting up and using handling and shearing facilities, moving the flock to a new pasture or catching an individual sheep, taking their behaviour into account ensures the job is completed in an efficient, low-stress manner.

When moving or handling sheep, keep the following aspects of their behaviour in mind:

• sheep do not like to be enclosed in a tight environment and will move into larger areas when possible
• sheep move toward other sheep willingly
• sheep move away from workers and dogs
• sheep have relatively good long-term memories, especially with respect to unpleasant experiences
• if given a choice, sheep prefer to move over flat areas rather than up an incline, and up an incline rather than down an incline
• sheep prefer to move from a darkened area towards a lighter area, but they avoid contrasts in lighting if the change is too dramatic
• sheep flow better through facilities if the same paths and flow directions are used every time
• stationary sheep are motivated to move by the sight of other sheep running away
• sheep will balk or stop moving forward when they see other sheep moving in the opposite direction
• sheep will move faster through a long, narrow pen or area than through a square pen
• sheep move better through the handling chute (race) if they cannot see the operator
• sheep will more willingly move toward an open area than toward what they perceive as a dead end
• very young lambs that become separated from their dams will want to return to the area where they first became separated
• like all livestock, sheep react negatively to loud noises, yelling and barking
• young sheep move through facilities more easily when their first move through is with well-trained older sheep

These observations of sheep behaviour have been established by people who have worked with sheep for many years under a wide range of conditions. Because these behaviours are very predictable, they can be used to the producer's advantage in all aspects of sheep management.

Taking sheep behaviour into account when managing your flock creates positive results:

• greater ease of moving groups
• greater willingness of sheep to enter and be processed in handling facilities
• fewer stress indicators in the animals and handlers

Planning your sheep handling facility

Sheep handling in "make-do" pens is not only hard, difficult work, it is outright unpleasant. As a result, important jobs like vaccinating and deworming are often delayed or not done at all.

Well-designed sheep handling facilities are essential to a successful sheep production operation. Few other investments will create such labour efficiencies and savings. Most producers will only build, or purchase, one handling facility in their lifetime, so planning is essential.

Incorporate existing paddocks, laneways and barnyards into the handling system to allow for ample space when the flock is held in the yards for long periods of time. Sheep need to move smoothly between these areas with a minimum of fuss. To achieve this, a producer needs to understand how good design encourages the sheep and lambs to move ahead through the system without balking, thereby keeping problems for workers to a minimum.

Well-designed facilities are easy to operate, reducing stress, labour and their associated costs.

Operations and factors checklist

To ensure that the handling facility will accommodate all the required jobs, make a complete list of the operations that will be carried out, and plan how these jobs will be done.

A useful checklist includes:

• shearing
• crutching
• sorting
• deworming
• vaccination
• body condition scoring
• pregnancy scanning
• foot trimming
• foot bathing
• weighing
• loading
• sale of sheep

Factors to be taken into consideration include:

• the best location for the facilities
• how large a group the facility will need to handle
• how much labour is available to work in the facility
• whether to modify existing facilities, build new facilities or purchase portable yards
• the costs involved

Facilities design

In simple terms, handling facilities consist of:

• low-density holding areas
• high-density holding areas
• a forcing (or crowding) area
• a drafting (sorting) race
• a handling (working) race

Low-density holding areas

Most producers can use nearby pastures and laneways as their low-density holding areas. These areas need to be secure enough to prevent sheep (particularly lambs) escaping from one area to the next. Consider using net wire fencing with openings no larger than 15 cm by 15 cm, secured to closely spaced posts.

High-density holding areas

High-density holding areas need to be built with medium-to-strong fencing materials. Make the area big enough to hold two sheep in full fleece per square metre. This creates enough room to drive the group into the yards, while leaving space for gates to swing and dogs to work (if dogs are used). It is important to make these areas long and narrow so that it is easy to control groups while they are driven into the forcing (crowding) area. According to recommendations from Australia and New Zealand, these high-density holding areas should be no wider than 10 m. If greater capacity is needed, it is better to lengthen them, rather than making them widerfootnote i[i].

Forcing (crowding) areas

A combined lead-up race and forcing pen that is 3 m wide has proven very effective in many handling facilities, particularly for large flocks. It allows large groups to be broken down into smaller groups for ease of handling. The drafting and working races will lead off from this area.

Triangular force pens (sometimes referred to as "V" force pens) are usually used in rectangular facilities and can be built in single or double forms (see Figure 1). In the single-triangular force pen, one side is an extension of the race fence, while the other side flares out at a 30-40 degree angle. The double force pen has two "wing" fences that flare out at similar angles and a central fence with a flip-flop gate at the race entrance to allow sheep to enter from either side.

Curved force pens (bugle) were thought to take advantage of sheep's inclination to follow flock mates that "disappear" around a curve and enable one person to efficiently process the sheep alone. However, more recent research has shown that in 1.5 m wide races, sheep move better through straight races than through curved races. Curved races are only superior when sheep move in single filefootnote ii[ii].

Some force pen designs do not work efficiently and should be avoided. These include square-shaped pens and the double-triangular force pens without a central fence (see Figure 2). The major problem with both of these designs is that sheep can easily avoid entering the race by turning suddenly (ringing) at the race entrancefootnote iii[iii].

Sorting/drafting race

For efficient drafting (sorting), the operator needs to be able to easily identify and draft the sheep he or she wishes to separate with a minimum of errors. To do this accurately requires an even flow of sheep. For small flocks, a two-way sort is satisfactory, but in larger-scale sheep operations, a three-way sort, using two gates, may be necessary.

Make the sorting race at least 3 m long, with the exit point showing a clear escape route for the sheep. The race walls need to have solid sides to prevent sheep from being distracted by those on the opposite side and disrupting the continuous flow of sheep. If the race is also used for drenching and vaccinations, consider a slightly wider race or one with adjustable sides.

The draft gate needs to be at least 1 m long to allow sheep to exit the race easily. Draft gates shorter than this cause sheep (particularly heavy-wooled and pregnant ewes) to jam against the edge of the race when exiting, slowing the flow significantly. There is some debate as to whether the draft gate should be made of solid sheeting or panels that sheep can see through. In Design of Sheep Yards and Sheds, Barber and Freemanfootnote iv[iv] give the following reasons for using gates that sheep can see through:

• The oncoming sheep can see the previous sheep moving away from the draft and are more inclined to follow.
• The gates are lighter and therefore quicker and easier to use.
• The gates are less affected by winds blowing across the drafting race.

On the other hand, they also list reasons for using solid draft gates:

• such gates act as a continuation of the drafting race wall, thus directing the sheep into the exit pen
• solid gates prevent horns or legs from getting caught

Handling race

Sheep yards need a multipurpose handling race for drenching, vaccinating and other activities. Most producers in Ontario will opt for this type of race rather than separate handling races and drafting races.

Several different types of handling races can be built:

• a single race 52–64 cm wide where the worker is outside the race
• a single race 70–80 cm wide where the worker is inside the race
• an adjustable-sided race in which the width can be varied between 45 and 80 cm

A suitable handling race is 6–15 m long with sides 85 cm high.

Figures 3 and 4 show basic handling facility layouts for sheep flocks with the key components identified, which can be constructed on farm from common materials. Table 1 provides dimensions for the various components of handling facilities.

Table 1. Yard dimensions in centimetres (100 centimetres = 1 metre)

Working race Facility Range (cm) Length 600–1,200 cm Width (fixed sides) 60–75 cm Width (adjustable sides) 45–80 cm Height 82–90 cm End gate height 110 cm

Working race comments:

• Open (see-through) or closed-in (solid) sides
• Keep low if sheep are worked from outside the race
• Sheep usually jump gates rather than sides

Drafting race Facility Range (cm) Length 300–350 cm Width 42–48 cm Height 85–100 cm

Drafting race comments:

• Closed-in (solid) sides
• Can be tapered at the bottom or of variable width

Fence Heights Facility Range (cm) Perimeter fence 95–110 cm Internal fence 90–105 cm Gates Facility Range (cm) Perimeter 300–400 cm Internal 200–300 cm Draft 120–150 cm

Gates comments:

• Open (see-through) sides

Loading ramp to truck Facility Range (cm) Width 70–100 cm Length 300–500 cm Height (fixed) 120 cm Height (variable) 70–120 cm

Loading ramp to truck comments:

• Slope not steeper than 1:3

Adapted from Sheepyard and Shearing Shed Design, F. Conroy & P. Hanrahan, .

Labour efficiency of handling facilities

Few sheep producers have adequate handling facilities. Many use the excuse that they are too expensive to purchase or their flock is not big enough to justify the cost of buying or building them. Ask any producer who has a handling facility and their response is they would not raise sheep without one. Why the differing views? The answer is in the savings in labour and associated costs to justify investing in handling facilities.

A survey of Irish sheep farmers showed that those with good handling facilities spent 5.1 hours per livestock unit less across livestock species than those with poor handling facilities (L. Connolly, Irish Farmers' Journal). At six sheep per livestock unit, that equates to savings of 51 minutes per ewe or 85 hours per 100 ewes each year.

For a flock of 1,000 ewes, that is an extra 84.2 days that could be spent doing other things. If you value your time at $15 per hour, a handling facility will easily pay for itself in less than three years. Table 2 offers labour saving dollar values as a function of two flock sizes and different wages to demonstrate this point.

Table 2. Dollar value of labour savings in commercial flocks of varying sizes using differing wage rates and the time saving of labour. Adapted from L. Connolly, Irish Farmers' Journal.

Labour cost per hour Labour savings per 100 ewes (85 hr) Labour savings per 500 ewes (425 hr) $10/hr $850 $4,250 $15/hr $1,275 $6,375 $20/hr $1,700 $8,500 $25/hr $2,125 $10,625

Just as important as the labour savings is the fact that all of those important handling jobs, like vaccination and deworming, get done when they should be done. Sorting for breeding, lambing, weaning and shearing takes very little time with a basic handling facility. In a basic setup, it is not uncommon for a single handler to be able to deworm or vaccinate 150 to 200 ewes per hour and sort 250 to 350 ewes per hour.

In summary, handling facilities:

• save labour
• reduce stress for sheep and handlers
• ensure the jobs get done when they are supposed to be

If you currently do not have a handling facility and plan to continue raising sheep, you need to seriously question why you have not invested in one. Handling facilities are essential if producers expect to find any savings in labour and efficiencies in the management of their sheep.

Conclusion

Handling facilities that are designed and constructed to take advantage of sheep behaviour significantly reduce the stress of handling for the sheep and, just as importantly, for the handler. Sheep move willingly through such facilities, and handlers no longer dread those jobs that previously required brute strength to tackle, catch and move individual sheep.

This fact sheet was originally written by Anita O'Brien, sheep and goat specialist, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), Kemptville, and updated by Christoph Wand, livestock sustainability specialist, OMAFRA, Guelph.

References

• Barber, A. and R.B. Freeman. . "Design of Sheep Yards and Shearing Sheds." In T. Grandin, ed., Livestock Handling and Transport. Wallingford, UK: CAB International, pp. 147-157.
• Conroy, F. and P. Hanrahan, . Sheepyard and Shearing Shed Design. East Melbourne: Agmedia.
• Hamilton, H.M. . "Yards 'n' Yakka - A summary." In M.F. Casey and G.R. Hamilton, eds, Yards 'n' Yakka: The Sheep Yard and Handling Systems Manual. Perth: Kondinin Group, pp 5-9.
• MidWest Plan Service. . Sheep Housing and Equipment Handbook, 4th ed. Ames, Iowa: MidWest Plan Service.
• Ransom, K. and P. Hanrahan. . "Thorough planning for new yards." In M.F. Casey and G.R. Hamilton, eds, Yards 'n' Yakka: The Sheep Yard and Handling Systems Manual. Perth: Kondinin Group, pp. 10-12.

Accessible image descriptions

Figure 1. Examples of successful force pen shapes.

Diagram showing three shapes for penning that will move sheep from a large opening to a smaller opening. Arrows show the direction of movement from the large area to the smaller area. The single-triangular force pen design is on the left. One side is of this force pen is straight, while the other flares out at an angle. The double-triangular force pen is in the middle. Both sides of this force pen flare out, while a central gate divides the pen in half. The bugle force pen is on the right. Both sides of this pen curve to the right.

Figure 2. Examples of unsuccessful force pen shapes.

Diagram of unsuccessful force pen shapes. A square force pen design is on the left. It is a large square with a small opening at the top left. The double triangle force pen is drawn on the right. It is a very large triangle with a small opening at the top of the triangle.

Figure 3. A floor plan to construct a bugle. Note the "planning point" from which all measurements start, which should be a survey stake or similar marker that remains in place throughout construction.

Diagram of a bugle handling facility. The facility is shaped like a U on its side, with the open part of the U facing the left hand side. The top right portion of the U is wide and the bottom part is small. The animals move from the wide to the narrow part following the sideways U shape.

Figure 4. Basic handling facility layout for sheep flocks.

Diagram of a basic sheep handling facility for sheep flocks. It is an upside down L-shape. Moveable gates allow the holding pens to be divided into small sections to create holding pens and force pens. The animals move from the top of the upside down L, along the side, to the bottom of the upside down L. At the bottom, the animals can then be forced into a smaller area along the side of the L for handling.

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