Anyone selling or buying livestock needs to give some thought to transporting sheep and goats.
Sheep should be handled gently and firmly. Never pull small livestock by their wool or by theirhorns, if they have them. The former is the same as pulling a person by the hair and causes bruising; the latter distresses the animal – horns are sensitive – and the horns can break.
Some say that sheep aren’t stupid ….. but remember that they are prey animals so they behave in such a way as to avoid being a predator’s dinner.
Do not drag sheep or goats with ropes around their necks.
Paperwork
The buyer needs to get a Certificate of Removal from the seller, along with a Stock Identification form and your receipts of purchase, so that you can prove that the animals have not been stolen.
If you are selling, prepare the forms beforehand. If you are buying, it makes sense to download the forms beforehand, in case the seller does not have them.
Vehicle
Use a suitable vehicle for transporting sheep and goats. You can use a bakkie, but unless you have railings around it or a canopy, it will be easy for the sheep to jump out. A trailer with railings would be preferable.
Do not move a sheep or goat in the boot of a car, as there is no ventilation and don’t carry them on the roof of a vehicle.
Do not transport sheep or goats with other species. Avoid overcrowding and keep the vehicle hygienically clean.
Avoid loading in extreme temperatures of the day and night.
Do not tie the legs together or tie the animal to the railings of the bakkie.
On arrival at your plot, try to ensure that you have help for offloading. Sheep really are not very bright and they will be nervous, so be prepared for them to rush around mindlessly. If you are putting them into a pen straight away, make sure that it is clean and ready for them beforehand.
Keep dogs inside, unless they are trained sheepdogs, as they are not likely to help the proceedings. Ensure that there is water at hand.
Can I transport sheeps and goats in a bakkie which has a plastic sail and ventilation
Do you have rails around the three sides of the bakkie that are open? And are those rails sufficiently high to prevent the animals from jumping out? And, of course, are the rails sufficiently close together to prevent the animals from climbing through them? Then yes, you can, for short distances, and a sail (tarpaulin) shouldn’t be necessary. But some precautions are necessary: Firstly in addition to rails you should have some form of non-slip flooring. A woven rubber mat fitted to the dimensions of the bakkie works well. Avoid overcrowding: If you need to transport more animals than can comfortably fit in the back rather do two trips. And remember to carry a valid Stock Removal Permit or you risk having the animals confiscated in a roadblock.
Can I travel with sheep or goats from East London to Cape Town?
Hi
I want to move sheep from Lesotho to Benoni. How does one get a quote?