Need:

  • Detection common parasites/manage external parasites/and treatment
  • Dosing/vaccinating sheep

Aim:

Restrain sheep while enabling the operator to administer vaccines, drenches etc. with minimal physical strain

Description:

The sheep conveyor moves and restrains sheep along a race at a speed pre-determined by the operator. The sheep are held upright and cannot move forward or backward in the conveyor. This allows the farmer to stay in one position on either side of the conveyor and administer treatments without moving. The conveyor speed can be adjusted and the sheep can be moved forward, held in one position, reversed or held on their back as required.

How to implement:

The sheep need to be loaded/walked onto the conveyor as it is moving, some sheep will walk on themselves but others may need to be physically pushed forward. The farmer can pre-determine and adjust the speed of the conveyor, and position themselves as the sheep to move towards them.

Expected benefits:

  • Time saving
  • Reduced physical strain on farmer
  • Can complete multiple treatments at once

Prerequisites and/or limits:

  • Some sheep may need to be pushed onto the conveyor
  • Not suitable for heavily pregnant ewes
  • Unable to carry out body condition scoring while animals are in the conveyor

Cost / Benefit Analysis

Social, environmental and welfare assessments: –

Country:

Ireland

Production system (Dairy or/and meat sheep/goat):

Dairy and meat sheep

Category of Animal (ewe, goat, replacement, lamb, kid):

Ewe, replacement, lamb

Source of information:

 

Attachment/links:

Dairy Goats Dairy Sheep Meat Sheep
UNISS, Universty of Sassari Department of Agriculture
Le CHIIRPO - Sm@RT Platform
CIIRPO Le Mourier – Digifarm France
Tjotta_meat_sheep_Norwegian_digifarm
Tjøtta research farm – Digifarm Norway
Ineoch - Sm@RT Platform - lleyn-ewe-and-lamb-cropped
UK Innovative Farm: Incheoch Farm
Fearn Farm Sm@RT Platform - Sheep Image 2
UK Innovative Farm: Fearn Farm
IMG_5656 - - Estonia - Sm@RT Platform.
Andri Peedo dairy goat farm – Estonia
DE Kismacsi Állattenyésztési Kísérleti Telep Front - Hungary - Sm@RT Platform
DE AKIT DTTI Kismacsi Állattenyésztési Kísérleti Telep
Meat sheep farm Eivind S. Mjøen, Oppdal
Sheep farm visit Oppdal with Agritech Cluster 23.March, 2023
Sm@ll Ruminant Technologies – Report on the 2nd Transnational Workshop
Sm@ll Ruminant Technologies – Report on the 1st Transnational Workshop
16th June 2022 – 3rd UK National Workshop & Training day (postponed from 25th May)
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