The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: spidge on September 19, 2018, 01:24:37 pm

Title: Number of sheep in a trailer
Post by: spidge on September 19, 2018, 01:24:37 pm
Hi all. I'm looking at buying a small livestock trailer similar to the one attached. Its an ifor williams and measured at 130cm wide (box only), 120cm high (box only) and 208cm long excluding towbar (88cm). I just wondered how many (on average) standard commercial sheep you could fit in a single short journey. It maybe a P6e?? But i dont know enough to be sure...

Ideally looking at moving 2-4 sheep around at a time, but wondered if it would take 5-6 to and from market 5 mins down the road?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Number of sheep in a trailer
Post by: twizzel on September 19, 2018, 01:37:15 pm
The weight comes into play here, so you need to find out what the payload is- it will be stamped on the axle. It looks unbraked- if so the maximum weight of trailer and contents mustn’t go over 750kg. An average commercial  ewe weighs 70-80kg. We have a similar trailer and fit 6 65kg ewes in no problem at all
Title: Re: Number of sheep in a trailer
Post by: pharnorth on September 19, 2018, 06:03:45 pm
I agree with Twizzle. I had a PG6 and it was comfortable with 4 and 6 is ok. However mine wasn't well ventilated as it had apparently been a store trailer originally and converted. If it has good ventilation holes at the front and a decent gap above the back door you should be ok. But you might find ventilation on a hot day is more of a limitation on capacity than the weight.
Title: Re: Number of sheep in a trailer
Post by: spidge on September 19, 2018, 08:38:26 pm
Thanks very much...good points well made. It looks in good nick so I think it will be fine for me.
Title: Re: Number of sheep in a trailer
Post by: Foobar on September 20, 2018, 01:23:24 pm
Fyi, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69423/pb12544f-transport-sheep.pdf (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69423/pb12544f-transport-sheep.pdf) 
Page 6 :)
Title: Re: Number of sheep in a trailer
Post by: Buttermilk on September 20, 2018, 03:36:19 pm
I had something similar when I first started with sheep.  I only did one journey with it when I bought 3 sheep from the breed sales in the August.  Very poor ventilation and I had changed the trailer before the breed sales held in September from where I brought 6 sheep home without any problems.
Title: Re: Number of sheep in a trailer
Post by: twizzel on September 20, 2018, 04:19:29 pm
I had something similar when I first started with sheep.  I only did one journey with it when I bought 3 sheep from the breed sales in the August.  Very poor ventilation and I had changed the trailer before the breed sales held in September from where I brought 6 sheep home without any problems.


Agree- we have a graham edwards gp74s with livestock top- super little trailer, really well ventilated, stock always travel well in it and load easily as it's nice and light. Have carried sheep 200 miles and they have come off the trailer as fresh as they went in.
Title: Re: Number of sheep in a trailer
Post by: shep53 on September 20, 2018, 06:14:46 pm
New or used , if used jack it up  and check the wheel bearings , all the lighting system and the hitch is not worn .   Depends on how much use, after 15yrs i'm on 3rd set of bearing and 2nd hitch
Title: Re: Number of sheep in a trailer
Post by: Possum on September 22, 2018, 07:10:06 pm
I think the ventilation would be  problem on a warm day. A five minute journey would be OK but I'm not sure that I would put more than three sheep in for journeys longer than 20 minutes.
Title: Re: Number of sheep in a trailer
Post by: Foobar on September 24, 2018, 10:09:25 am
If that's a P6e then it'll have vents on the front face of the canopy.


I have a P6e and it also has two roof hatches.  I can't say I've ever had to open them, but then I avoid transporting in any hot weather anyway.
Title: Re: Number of sheep in a trailer
Post by: Buttermilk on September 24, 2018, 10:20:53 am
Vents at the front only work if travelling at some speed.  Any slow or standing traffic and the trailer is not ventilated.
Title: Re: Number of sheep in a trailer
Post by: dixie on September 28, 2018, 08:28:10 am
I have that trailer, I use it it for up to 6 adult sheep.
Title: Re: Number of sheep in a trailer
Post by: Southern Northerner on October 02, 2018, 05:24:51 pm
It looks like a P6e which I have - it’s a nice little practical trailer.  I agree with all of the above plus if you’re transporting less sheep a divider would be useful.