Author Topic: Number of sheep in a trailer (Read 6269 times)

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.

twizzel · « **Reply #1 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

pharnorth · « **Reply #2 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.

spidge · « **Reply #3 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.

Foobar · « **Reply #4 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
Page 6

Buttermilk · « **Reply #5 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.

twizzel · « **Reply #6 on:** September 20, 2018, 04:19:29 pm »

Quote from: 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.

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.

shep53 · « **Reply #7 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

Possum · « **Reply #8 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.

Foobar · « **Reply #9 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.

Buttermilk · « **Reply #10 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.

dixie · « **Reply #11 on:** September 28, 2018, 08:28:10 am »

I have that trailer, I use it it for up to 6 adult sheep.

Southern Northerner · « **Reply #12 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.