Session 2:Restraint of Sheep,

Goats and Swine

Positional Terminology

Recumbent: Refers to lying down or back

Lateral: Refers to the side

Dorsal: Refers to the back(spine side)

Sternal: Refers to the underside (sternum/abdomen)

Know Normal Behavior

Important in determining which restraint technique to use

Differences between species

Sheep Terminology

“Ovine”

Ruminant Herbivores

– Ewe: Female of reproductive age

– Ram: Intact male of reproductive age

– Lamb: young sheep of either sex

– Wether: neutered adult male

– Mutton: meat derived from adult sheep

Sheep Production

Economical & efficient production of meat, wool and milk

Meat Breeds Wool BreedsCombination Breeds

Suffolk

Dorset

Hampshire

Southdown

Oxford

Shropshire

Rambouillet

Merino

Debouillet

Columbia

Targhee

Polypay

Texel

Tunis

Leicester

Cheviot

Sheep Meat Breeds

Dorset Suffolk

Oxford

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/

Sheep Wool BreedsRambouillet

MerinoTarghee

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/

Sheep Behavior

VERY herd conscious – usually driven in bunches

“Safety in numbers”

Wide visual field - ~ 270°

Highly sensitive to excessive noise

Sheep Behavior: Fight or Flight

Different responses to handling based on breed

White-faced wool breeds have greater flocking instinct

Fight or Flight zone depends on where sheep is raised:

Barn raised – shorter flight zone

Rarely saw people – bigger flight zone

Sheep Behavior

Very athletic!

– Will climb over each other when driven into enclosures

– BEWARE: Lambs can sustain traumatic injuries -use care when driving them!

When angry, will stamp front feet or head butt (especially rams!)

Capture and Restraint of Sheep

“Work” flock into small pen or enclosures

Approach individual slowly

Capture animal by putting one arm around its neck and front quarters then quickly wrapping other hand around rear quarters and grabbing its tail stump (dock)

Guide animal into desired area for treatment

Capture and Restraint of Sheep

Can use Shepherd’s Crook

– Use to hook a back leg in the hock area

– Work quickly so animal doesn’t fight crook and break its leg

Restraint of Sheep

RUMPING

– Very easy method of immobilizing animal for routine husbandry

– Hoof trimming

– Shearing wool

– SQ vaccinations

http://www3.northampton.edu/club/navta/Fall2006.pdf

Animal rests on

its hind quarters

to enable

technicians to

clean and trim

its hooves

and conduct a

physical exam.

Note: the

animal’s back is

supported

against the legs

of its restrainer

http://www3.northampton.edu/club/navta/Fall2006.pdf

Obtain pulse rate from

Femoral Artery

Normal pulse

rate in sheep is

70-90 BPM

Important!

NEVER NEVER grab a sheep or a mohair goat by the wool!

Causes subcutaneous bruising, ruins the wool for market

And it hurts!

Don’t be Baaaaaaashful…

Questions?

Goat Terminology

“Caprine”

Ruminant Herbivores

Doe: female

Buck: intact male

Kid: baby goat – either sex

Wether: castrated male

Goats

Raised for meat, milk, fiber and hides

Dairy Breeds Meat Breeds Fiber Breeds

Nubian

Alpine

LaMancha

Saanen

Toggenberg

Boer

Spanish

Myotonic

Pygmy

Kiko

Apine

Pygora

Dairy Breeds

Nubian

Saanen

Alpine

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/breeds.htm

Meat Breeds

Boer

Spanish

Kiko

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/breeds.htm

Fiber Breeds

Angora

Pygora

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/breeds.htm

Goat Behavior

Highly social animals!

Flock together in extended family groups

Males and females will establish social dominance via fighting

Use horns for fighting, so group the herd according to whether they’re horned or de-horned

Goat Behavior

Unlike sheep, they will not stay together when herded, instead will scatter

Best to ID the lead goat (usually a doe) and guide her into pen and the others will follow

Goat Behavior

Generally docile and handled easily

Goats DON’T tolerate rough treatment

If you’re rough, they get agitated and will try to butt

use the

minimum

amount

of restraint

necessary!

Goat Behavior

Warning Signs!

Hair raised along spine

Stamping foot

Sneezing/Snorting

Rearing up on hind legs

Goat Capture and Restraint

To capture: grab one of its front legs and lift animal;Can use shepherd’s crook

Push animal against a wall/fence with your legs and hips to restrain it

Place knee firmly in animal’s flank

Goat Restraint

Do not rump a goat to do any procedure!

Back animal’s hindquarters into a corner, and straddle animal at the shoulders while holding its head (good for TPR, and venipuncture)

Normal pulse

rate in goats is

70-90 BPM

Goat Restraint Methods

Flanking

– Leaves the animal laterally recumbent

Goats: Restraining the Head

Necessary for eye exams, oral meds and jugular blood collection

Two methods:– Place hands on cheeks, wrap fingers around

jawbone and hold firmly

– Grasp beard with one hand and encircle neck with the other to stabilize head*

* Beware mating season!!

Restraining for Venipuncture

Cephalic Venipuncture– Straddle goat’s shoulders, place one hand around

neck to stabilize head. Use other hand to hold out leg, “roll” vein and stabilize elbow.

Jugular Venipuncture– Back goat into corner and push it sideways into

wall. Use one hand to hold head to the side and one hand to hold off the vein

Questions?

QUESTION OF THE DAY…

If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled ?

Swine Terminology

“Porcine”

Monogastric omnivores

– Sow = Adult female

– Boar = Adult male

– Piglet/Farrow = Young

– Gilt = Sexually mature female, no litter yet

– Barrow = Castrated male

Swine Breeds: Top Breeds

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/Hampshire

DurocAmerican Yorkshire

Swine Behavior

Intelligent, stubborn, vocal and at times vicious

Easily frightened due to poor eyesight

Can be incredibly dangerous to restrain

When stressed or treated roughly, can become hyperthermic easily!

Swine Behavior

When aggressive, pigs will use sharp teeth

Unlike sheep and goats, pigs can’t be herded;

Will come to the rescue of a distressed herd mate! Beware!

ALWAYS have an escape

route when working with pigs!

Tools for Capture and Restraint

Pig Boards– Flat, solid piece of wood, plastic,

metal large enough to cover handler’s legs

– Use as barrier to move pig in direction you want

– Make sure board is touching ground, otherwise pig will try to go under it

Tools for Capture and Restraint

Paddles

– Flat board on a long stick

– Gently tap pig on shoulder, rump or side of face to direct it in direction you want

– Do NOT slap the pig with the paddle. It will become enraged and you will NOT win!

Capture and Restraint of Pigs

Lifting pigs

– Use on pigs > 50lbs

– Good for castration, vaccination andadministering meds

Tools for Restraint

Hog Snare

– Long metal pole with cable loop on end

– Use for large pigs

– Dangle loop in front of pig’s snout; when pig opens mouth, push loop into mouth behind tusks and tighten

– Move quickly, as pig will whip around to get free.

Tools for Restraint

V-Trough

– Used for placing smaller pigs on their back

– Stretch pig’s legs to secure ropes

– Stretch pig’s neck for venipuncture

Questions?

Have a Great Week!