If you currently do not have a handling facility, 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. Handling facilities will:
- Save labour
- Reduce stress for the sheep and operator
- Ensure jobs get done when they need to
- Take advantage of sheep behaviour
- Sheep will move willingly through the system
Some factors which should be taken into consideration if you are building or purchasing one include:
- The best location for the facilities (should be the centre point of your operation)
- How large of group the facility will need to handle (plan for expansion)
- How much labour is available to work in the facility
- Whether to modify existing facilities, build new or purchase portable yards
- The cost involved
More information on handling facilities and sheep behaviour can be found in the OMAFRA factsheet entitled, “Use Sheep Behaviour to Your Advantage When Designing Handling Facilities” When designing a handling facility plan for other contracted jobs such as shearing or pregnancy scanning. For a new facility, consider the various design options for shearing such as raised decks and shearing chutes to make shearing less labour intensive. More information can be found in the OMAFRA factsheet, “Shearing Facility Design and Shearing in Ontario”
