Last week , Dad and Fayre , ourPortuguese Water Dogtook three of our young sheep , Aliss , Dixie MoonandGunnar(his name used to be Carrot ) to their raw base in Glencoe , Okla. They traveled in a covered caprine animal tote in the back of our motortruck .
You do n’t need alivestock trailerto transport modest animals likesheep , goat , pigsandcalves , but it ’s trickier to haul them in a hand truck or avant-garde . That ’s because trailers are designed with their safety gadget in creative thinker , motortruck beds and vans are n’t .
mummy and Dad often transport one or two sheep or goats in the back of their minivan , but no matter how tame an animate being is , it should n’t be able to jump in the number one wood ’s lap ! A sheep and her lambs or goat and her Thomas Kid can be hale in a super - size wiener crateful in a vanguard with the back seat removed . add together bedding is of import because dog- crate floors are slippy . Straw put to work better than grazing and a thick blanket or two is better yet . ( Buy old blanket for cheap at a chiliad sales event or thrift depot . ) If you load the crate in the back of your van , be sure to spread a tarp on the floor to catch spills . A crate can also be loaded in the bed of the truck , but it should be pulled up nigh behind the cab and secured with affiliation - downs . If it ’s cold or wet , wrap the top , front and side with a charge plate tarpaulin ; tie it firmly so it does n’t wave .
Another way to haul small livestock in a van is to halter and tie each animal to something inflexible . If they ’re really meek and you ’re sure they wo n’t panic , hale them loose but with a dog - eccentric roadblock sieve in place to keep them out of the front seat .
Livestock carriers , like goat holdall , are perfect for hauling livestock in a hand truck . Do n’t , however , take any luck — secure them cautiously using sturdy necktie - down straps . Also , do n’t trust factory - installed latch ; if they come up open in transit and your beast get off , they could be kill . Reinforce latches with strong bungee cords or rope ties .
If you make your own truck - bed haulier , make it stout ! And always lend a roof — you’d be storm how high we can jump when we ’re afraid . It ’s important to protect animals hauled in trucks from air current , cold and rain , and if you bar in the summer , be certain to park in the ghost so your animate being do n’t overheat . Always drive carefully , accelerating and slow down step by step , and ascertain those turns ! Do n’t make your animals shinny or fall down .
And finally , before you embark on a trip across state lines , be certain you have the correct paperwork in hand . You will always need up - to - date wellness composition issued by a vet . Sheep must be wearing USDA - approved scrapie spike tags , or if they ’re micro - chipped , you must have your own micro - buffalo chip referee along on the trip . goat that live with sheep must be track or tattoo . Requirements vary from species to species and state of matter to state , so check with your vet to know what IDs and papers your animals involve .
« More Mondays with Martok »
