You should also think about avoiding contamination of the sheep and goat fibres.
When compromise is necessary, both sheep and goats can be worked through the same yard facility but the following points are essential for goats:
• The drafting race should be three metres long. In longer races goats turn and in shorter races they run too fast for drafting accuracy. The race must have smooth sides, with panels higher on the far side to stop animals jumping.
• The working race should have a width of 500 mm to 600 mm and be divided by gates into sections three metres long and 900 mm high, or 100 mm higher than for sheep. Avoid using mesh construction wherever possible.
• Perimeter height should be 1200 mm, with internal heights of 900 mm. Feral goats and goats which are handled only once or twice a year will remain flighty and difficult to manage. Extra height may be needed on both internal and perimeter yards for these goats. For example, a perimeter fence of 1500 mm, with 1200 mm for the far side the draft nd working races. The near side of the draft and working races can br 900 mm to 1000 mm.
Modifying existing sheep yards
Is often difficult to justify building new yards specifically for goats if sheep yards already exist. Some improvements can be made to a long working race by dividing it with block gates to cut down the degree of packing.
Bugle Sheep Yard
You should think about raising the height of the panels to deter jumping, particularly at the end of the race where goats can get a run up and climb over those in front.
When modifying, remember to avoid contaminating sheep wool with goat fibres by using materials that do not hold fibre well like steel pipe and steel panelling or conveyor belting.
The potential problem areas when handling goats in yards designed for sheep can include:
- Height – when the yards perimeter is raised to 1200 mm, most reasonably managed goats will stay inside.
- A few will jump lower internal yards if pressed, but it is difficult to justify the expense of raising the internal panels. Training the goats and developing skill in handling them is a better remedy.
- Drafting race – raise the far side of the drafting race by 150 mm – 200 mm. This is an area where animals may try to escape as they approach the drafting gate. Make the side of the draft smooth. Goats don’t like walking under an arm holding a
- drafting gate – a bar section can be used to reach the far drafting gate so that no arm is visible as goat turns the corner and approaches the drafting section.
- Working race – incorporate block gates to partition the race into a number of sections each three (3) metres long. Raise the height of panels by 100 mm to deter jumping, particularly at the of the race, where gates should be raised to a height of 1200 mm to 1500 mm.
- Width of forcing yard – to overcome wide forcing yards incorporate a dummy panel to reduce the turning area to a width of no more than 2.5 metres.
- Tight corners – fence off tight corners into areas for shade trees.
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