The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: Womble on August 19, 2017, 03:31:32 pm
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Hi Folks,
I just thought I'd post a couple of pics of the DIY livestock divider that I just made for our wee trailer. We have three girls and one boy going to the abbatoir next week, and I didn't want them er, banging about in the trailer on the way there :innocent: . It should also come in handy for taking mixed sexes to shows.
The big disadvantage that I can see is that it splits the internal space into 1/3 and 2/3, since that's how the attachment points in the trailer are arranged, and 1/3 of 7'x4' really isn't much space! However, it would be ok for a single animal and for short distances.
Still, I hope this is helpful to somebody. BTW, the spring loaded bolt was from Screwfix, product code 9449J. (http://www.screwfix.com/p/smith-locke-spring-loaded-animal-bolt-zinc-plated-230mm/9449j)
:thumbsup:
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Excellent job , but I surprised the trailer hasn't got the 2 sets of locating rails on the floor for the divider to slot into, ours has fitted from new.
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As I understand it, the livestock version of this trailer is basically the standard tray-unit but with a canopy slapped on top and a long ramp. Ours came with 1" wide hardwood laths to give the sheep grip, but we had to remove them so we could slide / wheel other things around inside (the sheep don't seem to mind). It definitely didn't have any locating rails or similar.
Maybe we should have bought a 'proper' sheep trailer to begin with, but this one has now done several thousand miles of carting all sorts of things, and only occasionally sheep!
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Well, I think that worked not too badly.
We have the 7ft trailer, and divided 2/3 and 1/3, there was ample room for three big Zwartbles ewes up front (maybe four at a push) plus a hogg in the rear section who could just turn round with difficulty.
I wouldn't like to use this setup for a long journey (there's no way to get into the front section without opening up the rear for one thing) but for a 25 minute trip to the abattoir, it was good enough IMHO :thumbsup: .