Ref Code: SHE06

Category

Research - 4

Objective

To restrict sheep for purposes of research or demonstration.

Details of procedure

Restraint should be the minimum necessary to efficiently carry out the required  procedure.

1. Food

Persons undertaking intensive sheep management should consult with a qualified animal nutritionist to obtain the most up-to-date advice on suitable rations and feeding regimes. Incorrectly formulated rations can predispose sheep to laminitis, rumenitis, acidosis or gastrointestinal upsets. If concentrated rations are fed, sheep should be vaccinated against Clostridial and other diseases.

Except during drought feeding, sheep should be fed at intervals to ensure that feed is not unavailable for periods of more than 36 hours. 

The palatability of the ration should be high. Pellets should be firm and should not contribute to a dust problem by crumbling excessively during handling.

'Shy-feeders' should not be placed in other established groups, but as they are identified and segregated over several days, they should form a separate group. When new sheep are introduced into a group the reaction varies from bullying to isolation. Stress is usually indicated by continuous agitation, movement, panting and high water consumption.

Sheep which refuse to eat or are less thrifty should be segregated for special treatment.  If they do not respond to treatment they should be moved back to pasture, agisted or humanely destroyed on site.

Where sheep are being fed on an ad lib basis or where the trough contains food for up to 15 hours per day, between 20-50mm trough space per sheep should be allowed. Where smaller amounts of food are offered at set feeding times, there should be at least 200mm of trough space per sheep to allow all sheep to stand and feed at the same time. In both situations a minimum trough length of 300mm is recommended.

2. Water

Fresh drinkable water in clean troughs should be available in sufficient quantities at all times. Sheep in feedlots may drink up to 6L per head per day in hot weather. Where nipples or automatic drinkers are used, there should be at least two to each pen. Copper piping is not to be used for water.

When an enterprise for the intensive husbandry of sheep is first established, or a new water source obtained, the water should be tested for salt content and microbiological contamination and advice obtained on its suitability for sheep.  As the composition of water from bores, dams or water holes may change with changes in flow or evaporation, the water may require more frequent monitoring for suitability for sheep. 

An allowance of at least 15mm of water trough length per sheep should be made, provided pipe sizes and water pressure are sufficient to keep water in the troughs no matter how fast the sheep drink, otherwise the trough length should be increased accordingly. A minimum trough length of 300mm is recommended. Water supplies should be checked each day to ensure that pipes, taps and ball valves do not become blocked.

3. Accommodation

The accommodation provided for sheep should not be the cause of injury, distress or predispose animals to disease. AEC approval for confinement is required to account for the size of stall and its effect on restricting sheep movement.

Sheep kept in groups require sufficient space for each to rest, feed and exercise. They should have a clean, dry place on which to lie. Sheep accommodated individually in pens or stalls should be able to stand and lie normally, stretch and turn around. Where a tether is used, it should be loose-fitting around the neck and have swivels to prevent entanglement. It should be well clear of other objects and should be of sufficient length and attached to a running wire, to allow for normal activities and body functions, e.g. lying down, stretching and standing. Sheep should not be tethered in isolation and are to be released as soon as the demonstration or experiment is completed. Regular inspection of the tether is necessary to ensure there is no damage to the neck or entanglement.

Floors should be constructed and maintained so as to be well-drained and to minimise the risk of injury or disease. If sheep are to be kept on concrete, approval should only be given if pens are sufficiently large to provide a dry area. Woolly sheep should not be kept on concrete. Slatted or mesh floors should not allow the feet of sheep to be trapped but should allow excreta to pass through readily. Deep litter systems are suitable for housing sheep, provided they are dry and correctly maintained.

All surfaces in pens and fittings to which sheep have access should be made of materials that can be adequately cleaned. However woolly sheep should not be kept in areas that are hosed frequently.

Suggested minimum space allowances for intensively managed sheep (as specified in the Model Code of Practice – see reference below.)

4. Equipment

All equipment to which sheep have access should be designed and maintained so as to avoid injury or pain.

Sheep require ready access to food and water and the equipment provided should allow such access for all sheep. Food and water troughs should be sited and constructed to prevent contamination by faeces and/or urine.

Essential mechanical equipment should be inspected regularly and kept in good working order. Alternative ways of providing food and water and of maintaining a satisfactory environment should be available in case of breakdown of essential mechanical equipment. Buildings with automated ventilation equipment should have an alarm system to warn of equipment failure.

All electrical installations at mains voltage should be inaccessible to sheep and properly earthed.

5. Environment

When sheep are housed, the rate of air exchange should provide for respiration, removal of excess heat and waste gases, and minimisation of the effects of dust and excess moisture.

Sufficient lighting should be available to enable proper inspection of all sheep.

Faeces and urine should not be allowed to accumulate and present a risk to the health or welfare of the sheep.

6. Protection

All reasonable steps should be taken to minimise the effects of climatic extremes that may cause either cold stress or heat stress, particularly in recently-shorn sheep and young lambs.

In areas where predation by dogs is known to be a problem, a dog-proof perimeter fence should be placed around the facility.

Dogs which bite sheep when working should be either muzzled or not permitted to work sheep. Dogs should be kennelled or otherwise controlled at all times.

Feedlots should be sited in a place considered to be safe from the effects of fire and floods.  During periods of high fire danger, firebreaks may need to be constructed. Adequate fire fighting equipment should be available and provision made for rapid escape of threatened animals.  Fire hoses should be capable of delivering sufficient water volume and pressure to control a fire in any building or part of any building.

7. Health

All sheep should be checked by an experienced stockman at least once each day for signs of injury, inappetence, illness or distress.  When problems are noted, appropriate action should be taken to establish the cause and correct the situation.

Where the stockman is able to identify the cause of ill-health he should take immediate remedial action. If the cause is not obvious, or if the stockman's action is not effective, veterinary advice should be obtained as soon as possible. Any sheep with a debilitating illness or injury which does not respond quickly to treatment, or a painful deformity, should be humanely destroyed.

Preventative measures should be taken against diseases common in the district or which may have become endemic in the facility. Management should keep adequate records on the source of sheep entering the facility, management practices, disease outbreaks, control measures taken and response to treatment so that this information is available to assist disease investigations.

Dead sheep should be removed promptly and disposed of in a hygienic manner. Post mortem should be conducted on sheep dying of unknown causes.

Drugs, chemicals or biological agents

Depend on the situation.

Impact of procedure on wellbeing of animals

Lack of exercise, boredom, feet trimming needed.

Reuse and repeated use

Reuse should be permitted for animals which are not distressed by confinement.

Care of animals during/after the procedure

Careful observation by experienced person to ensure their well-being.

Pain relief measures

As required by research protocol.

Qualifications, experience or training necessary to perform this procedure

Competence in the handling, husbandry and management of sheep.

References

• Primary Industries Standing Committee (2006), Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: The Sheep, 2nd edn, available from http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/22/sid/11.htm
• Animal Research Review Panel (2010), Guidelines for the housing of sheep in scientific institutions, available from http://www.animalethics.org.au