Build a Simple Goat Restraint for Slaughter, Maintenance or Milking

Reader Contribution by Eric Reuter and Chert Hollow Farm
Published on September 3, 2015
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Goats need to be held still in various contexts, including slaughtering, hoof-trimming, and milking. Ideally, the method of restraint should be comfortable/humane, strong, portable, easy to use, and affordable. We’ve developed a homemade goat restraint that fits these categories and has worked for many years

The restraint consists of a wooden frame, with a rotatable curved head-lock. We simply lash the restraint to two T-posts with a few turns of baling twine, at a height appropriate for the intended animal’s size, and it’s ready to use. Food (like hay or grain) placed in front of the restraint entices the goat in the first place, and provides entertainment and preoccupation during whatever comes next. The goat puts its head through the frame, then the head-lock turns on a bolt and latches into place across the goat’s neck, holding the animal securely in place.

The drawing gives a few basic dimensions, but most of these do not need to be absolute; the design can be adapted to fit the wood and goats on-hand. We initially designed this restraint for use in fall slaughter of first-year kids, though we quickly found other uses as well.

The neck hole as shown is slightly small for full-size adult goats (though still workable), while it’s too large for young kids, who can slip their heads back through. The latter problem is easily prevented by slipping a thin slab of wood across the bottom of the neck hole, thus raising its base enough to narrow the opening.

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