[blackbelly] Re: sheep-handling equipment

[Peg Haese KB9LIE]

Carol, we have used several different types of handing equipment at
sheepdog trials. The D-S sorting gate is definitely the best design
we've seen so far. I sure wish they would come to the Wisconsin Sheep &
Wool Festival so I wouldn't have to pay freight on top of purchase
price. 

Haven't bought anything so far because of the cost for a medium-length
setup. I would put it in the barn. It would be next to two walls and
have a 90-degree turn in the corner. The end would be at one of the
large doors leading outside. We could do more sorts that way just by
moving gates. We wouldn't lose much room in the barn by leaving the
gathering pen open and just the sorting gate moved out of the way most
of the time. 

The neighbors only use their scale once a year and store it here. That
would also fit in line and would sure be a better way to weigh market
lambs. Now Paul has to grab each one and push it into the scale cage
while I do the doors.

I haven't had to trim hooves so far so can't help there. Friends with
Katahdins and some Dorset crosses bought a full D-S setup including a
turntable. Not sure they would buy the turntable again but that would
solve your hoof trimming problem. It's a lot more expensive than one of
those chairs though. 

We have mostly commercial woolies (up to 9 and 10 years old) with some
young Katahdins and Kat crosses. Their hooves seem to stay short on
their own. We have rocky limestone pastures. The ones with bad feet
have been culled.

Would like to hear what others say about handling equipment.

Peg Haese in SW Wisconsin
PNP Katahdins

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com 
_______________________________________________
This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list
Visit the list's homepage at 
Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info
http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info