The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Fieldfare on May 24, 2013, 08:32:06 pm
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Hi all- how many adult Castlemilk Moorit ewes would I get in an Ifor Williams P6e trailer (legally and taking into account welfare). How densely can they be packed in? And what about Shearlings?
Many thanks!
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I would have thought 4-6 depending on size - I like to do a deep straw bed and have more rather than less so they don't get rolled about on the 100's roundabouts around Aberdeen - but that's me and my situation - have a safe trip
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I don't have a P6e - what are the internal dimensions?
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I've got a P7E (7 feet by 4 feet) and moved 4 castlemilks in it. Judging from that I'd say I could easily get eight in it. With your P6E ( 6 x 4) I'd say six in it would be fine.
Regards, David
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I agree on the 6 that would be comfy and not too overcrowded. We have a P8 so judging it from that 8-10 capacity for smallish ewes, 6 should be fine in a P6
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For info, the defra welfare guidelines state how much square area sheep should have during transportation.
https://www.gov.uk/sheep-and-goat-welfare (https://www.gov.uk/sheep-and-goat-welfare) --> scroll down to link to doc on welfare guidance on transporting sheep.
Shorn sheep or lambs over 26kg and below 55kg need 0.2-0.3 sq metres each.
Unshorn sheep under 55kg need 0.3-0.4 sq metres
and
Heavily pregnant sheep under 55kg need 0.4-0.5 sq metres.
P6e is 1.98mx1.21m = 2.4 sq metres, so that's 8-12 shorn sheep, or 6-8 unshorn sheep, or 4-6 pregnant sheep.
(I'm glad I worked that out as I can use those figures myself for my own sheep now in my P6e :))
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Hi folks- thanks a lot for the info. Really helpful :)