Planning and Manufacturing of Circular Forcing Pen for Veterinary Operations and Sheep Washing and Comparing it with Traditional Method

Two circular forcing pens (CFP) were constructed to compare with the traditional method (TM) for sheep vaccination against agalactia and enterotoxemia and washing. For each treatment, 450 Shirazi Gray ewes (three replicates of 150 ewes) were used. The vaccination time (h), the laborers (person), the injured sheep (head), and the vaccine doses used were determined. For both vaccines, vaccination time and the number of injured ewes were significantly reduced using the CFP compared with the TM (p < 0.001). Vaccine use per flock was also significantly reduced in the CFP (p = 0.015 and p = 0.047, respectively). In the washing experiment, the CFP significantly reduced washing time (p < 0.001) and the number of injured ewes (p = 0.063). The number of laborers required for washing was 7 workers in the TM and 4 workers in the CFP. Using the CFP decreased plasma cortisol concentrations, heart rates, and respiratory rates during both vaccination and washing procedures compared with the TM (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the CFP improved handling efficiency by reducing time, labor, injuries, and vaccine use, and may contribute to improved operational efficiency in sheep production. However, formal economic analysis is needed to confirm potential cost-effectiveness.