The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: kelly58 on June 10, 2015, 11:26:22 am

Title: Transporting Lambs
Post by: kelly58 on June 10, 2015, 11:26:22 am
What age can lambs be transported for sale, its a 4-5 hr journey ?  :sheep:
Title: Re: Transporting Lambs
Post by: Herdygirl on June 10, 2015, 12:27:24 pm
From a week old if they are fit and healthy.
Title: Re: Transporting Lambs
Post by: kelly58 on June 10, 2015, 06:25:06 pm
Many thanks  :sheep:
Title: Re: Transporting Lambs
Post by: snowyriver on June 10, 2015, 09:14:36 pm
What age can lambs be transported for sale, its a 4-5 hr journey ?  :sheep:

Hi kelly58.
More information would be helpful, as my answer to your question depends entirely on what it is you intend to transport for 4-5 hours, how many will be together in the trailer/lorry etc., but personally I wouldn't be comfortable transporting week old lambs for that length of time.
Title: Re: Transporting Lambs
Post by: Herdygirl on June 10, 2015, 09:18:57 pm
all you need to know is here  https://www.gov.uk/sheep-and-goat-welfare (https://www.gov.uk/sheep-and-goat-welfare)
Title: Re: Transporting Lambs
Post by: snowyriver on June 10, 2015, 09:55:29 pm
all you need to know is here  https://www.gov.uk/sheep-and-goat-welfare (https://www.gov.uk/sheep-and-goat-welfare)

Hi Herdygirl.
I stick completely by my previous post. I've read the initial post and am familiar with DEFRA regulations.
One clearly asks 'what age can lambs be transported for sale, it's a 4-5 hr journey' and the other clearly says 'It’s illegal to transport an animal that’s considered unfit for travel. This includes very young animals - eg lambs of less than one week - unless the journey is less than 100 kilometres'.
I assume if the journey takes 4-5 hrs that it would be much further than 100km.
Title: Re: Transporting Lambs
Post by: Herdygirl on June 10, 2015, 11:12:21 pm
Hi snowyriver
 
I also would not contemplate transporting very young lambs such a distance either but Kelly58 was enquiring about how old they had to be by law.  As long as the seller has the necessary trailer certificate and the lambs are legally old enough she can do it.  You often see cade lambs being off loaded at markets, not nice I know but it happens.