Modular Interlocking Sheep & Goat Handling & Drafting Yard (1,500-Head)
Engineered according to Australian AS 2832 and New Zealand pastoral yard design standards. This turnkey sheep and goat handling facility incorporates an ergonomic diamond forcing pen (crowding yard), an adjustable-width 10m drafting race with non-return anti-backing flaps, a rapid 3-way shedding/drafting gate allowing a single operator to draft up to 600 sheep per hour, and high-tensile hot-dip galvanized interlocking hurdles with drop-pin connectors for modular pasture setup or permanent concrete pad installation.
Facility Layout & Animal Welfare Engineering Specifications
Ergonomic livestock flow, minimum clearance dimensions, and stocking density allowances.
Standard Bill of Materials (BOM) Equipment Matrix
Core prefabricated equipment components included in this turnkey package.
| Item Description | Qty | Unit | Engineering Specification | Catalog Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Sheep Handling & Drafting Race | 1 | Complete Unit | 10m race, 3-way draft gate, anti-backing ratchets, dual guillotine lift gates, wheel kit option | View Specs → |
| Galvanised Sheep Hurdles (10ft / 3.0m) | 40 | Panels | 7-rail tubular construction, 25x25mm frame with 19mm rails, drop-pin interlocking lugs | View Specs → |
| Sheep Hurdles (7ft / 2.1m) | 30 | Panels | Lightweight high-strength 7ft panels for forcing pens and race lead-in funnels | View Specs → |
| Sheep Swinging Gates with Outer Frame | 8 | Gates | Heavy frame with bidirectional swing and spring slide bolt for pen drafting | View Specs → |
| Double-Sided Sheep Feeding Troughs | 12 | Units | Galvanized sheet trough with hay rack grid to minimize fleece wool contamination | View Specs → |
| Automatic Sheep Water Drinkers | 8 | Units | Cast iron / stainless nose-touch water bowls with drain plug and brass valve | View Specs → |
Maritime 40HQ Ocean Shipping & Container Packing Plan
Container utilization, flat-pack nesting bundles, and weight distribution.
Civil Foundation & Concrete Slab Guidelines
Sub-base preparation, concrete slab thickness, and anchor bolt embedment.
International Manufacturing & Welfare Codes
- ✓AS 2832-2003 Australian Livestock Yard Design & Handling Standards
- ✓New Zealand Animal Welfare (Sheep & Beef Cattle) Code of Welfare
- ✓EN ISO 1461 Hot-Dip Galvanizing (Zinc Mass ≥ 450 g/m²)
- ✓Ergonomic Low-Stress Drafting Principles (Eliminating Operator Fatigue)
Facility Engineering Whitepaper & Animal Behavioral Flow
Biomechanical principles, stress-free animal movement, and microclimate environmental physics.
Flock Psychology & Vision Flow in Sheep Yards
Sheep exhibit strong herd-following behavior and possess an instinctive fear of narrow, dimly lit dead ends. In traditional rectangular yards, sheep jam into 90-degree corners and suffocate lambs. Our 60-degree V-funnel diamond forcing pen utilizes 7-rail tubular hurdles that maintain visual flock connection while funneling animals smoothly into the 10m drafting race. The tapered race cross-section prevents sheep from turning around without restricting forward momentum.
Pasture Portability vs Permanent Feedlot Rigidity
Modern pastoral enterprises require versatile handling equipment that can be set up temporarily at satellite pasture paddocks for drenching and crutching, or mounted permanently on a central shearing shed pad. Our interlocking drop-pin system uses 16mm forged steel pins tethered to each panel, allowing 2 workers to deploy or pack up the full 70-hurdle circuit in under 3 hours without tools.
Biosecurity Washdown & Facility Preventative Maintenance
Turnaround chemical sanitation, mechanical pivot lubrication, and structural inspection intervals.
Power wash race sliding tracks and guillotine gate guides after crutching and dipping to prevent lanolin grease and dirt buildup.
Spray silicone or lithium grease onto 3-way shedding gate pivot bearings and drop-pin sleeves monthly during heavy drafting seasons.
Inspect steel retaining clips on hurdle drop-pins before pasture road towing to ensure zero dropped hardware.
Turnkey Engineering & Export Logistics FAQ
Q1:What is the maximum drafting speed through the 3-way shedding gate?
A single experienced operator can comfortably draft 500 to 600 adult sheep per hour into three separate holding pens (e.g., heavy lambs, light lambs, ewes).
Q2:Can the sheep yard hurdles be used for goats or horned breeds?
Yes. The 7-rail design features narrow lower spacing (80mm to 120mm) and 0.95m overall height, preventing horned ewes or energetic meat goats from escaping or wedging horns.
Q3:Is the mobile drafting race road-legal for highway towing?
We offer an optional transport kit complete with 13-inch highway-rated wheels, removable drawbar, winch suspension, and LED lighting board for on-road transport between stations.
Complete 1,500-head handling yard kit costs ~$19,500–$22,500 CIF (all-inclusive 40HQ delivery), saving 48% compared to $38,000–$45,000 list prices for New Zealand or UK alloy mobile yards.
Ready to Engineer Your Facility?
Send us your herd scale, paddock survey, or barn dimensions. Our engineering team provides custom 3D CAD facility blueprints and detailed equipment quotations within 24 hours.