Standard Operating Procedures

Sheep Cleaning/Care

Last updated: January 20, 2012

PROCEDURE
Morning Care

• Observe animals for any sign of injury or illness. Report problems immediately to IHI staff and LAR supervisor or Attending Veterinarian (AV), IHI DVM and/or IHI Project Manager.
• If sheep fasting is required for anesthesia the next day, put on booties and gloves, then move sheep into fasting pen with a fresh bucket of water by 9 am. NO A.M. ALFALFA PELLETS FOR PRE-OP SHEEP!
• Remaining sheep in the main stall and post-op pen should be given 2 scoops of pellets per sheep in a black rubber feed pan designated for sheep use only. Add 1 pinch of mineral salt per sheep (approximately 1 teaspoon).
• Rinse and refill all water buckets. There should be 1 water bucket per 2 small to medium sheep and 1 water bucket per 1 large sheep.
• Check room temperature and humidity and record on Health Sciences Building (HSB) temperature log for the day as well as daily room sheet.

Afternoon Care

• Observe animals for any sign of injury or illness. Report problems immediately to IHI staff and LAR supervisor.
• Rinse and refill all water buckets. There should be 1 water bucket per 2 small to medium sheep and 1 water bucket per 1 large sheep.
• If sheep will have anesthesia the next day, put on booties and gloves, then remove water by 4:30 pm.
• Remaining sheep in the main stall should be given 2 scoops of pellets per sheep. Add 1 teaspoon of mineral salt per sheep.
• Remove all soiled hay from hay feeder.  Sheep will not eat hard stem hay and it must be removed too.
• Top off hay feeder if needed or if more than 3 sheep per pen.

Spot Clean

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday

• Observe animals for any sign of injury or illness. Report problems immediately to IHI staff and LAR supervisor or AV.
• Put on booties and gloves. Rinse and fill water buckets and refill hay feeders. If there are 2 sheep in the end pens or more than 4 medium sheep in main pen, feeders should be kept full throughout the day.
• Remove all pellet boxes for cleaning. Replace with clean feeders if soiled.
• Remove soiled bedding and replace with clean bedding, if necessary.
• Wipe down sink area, top of feed bin, cart, doors, walls, and wall shelf.
• Sweep ceiling vents. Sweep and mop room aisle.
• Fill out census and check list sheets. Initial daily log.
• Dump garbage in outside dumpsters.

Complete Bedding Change

Monday, Wednesday, Friday

• Observe animals for any sign of injury or illness. Report problems immediately to IHI staff and LAR supervisor or AV.
• Put on booties and gloves. Exchange water buckets, remove old hay and refill hay feeders. If there are 2 sheep in the end pens or more than 4 medium sheep in main pen, feeders should be kept full throughout the day.
• Remove all pellet bowls for cleaning. Pellet bowls should be exchanged daily.
• Remove all bedding from pens. Sweep. Scrub down walls with MB-10 and paper towels. Mop the stall floors with a 1:40 dilution of household bleach in water.
• Put down enough clean bedding (pine shavings) to cover 2/3 of floor area in sheep pen.
• Wipe down sink area, top of feed bin, cart, doors, walls, and wall shelf.
• Remove sheep restrainer to cage wash room. Wash in cage washer on 'No Cart' cycle.
• Sweep ceiling vents. Sweep and mop room aisle.
• Check food containers and refill if needed.
• Fill out census and check list sheets. Initial daily log.
• Dump garbage in outside dumpsters.

Weekend and Holiday

• Observe animals for any sign of injury or illness. Report problems immediately to IHI staff and LAR supervisor or AV.
• Put on booties and gloves. Rinse and fill water buckets and refill hay feeders. If there are 2 sheep in the end pens or more than 4 medium sheep in main pen, feeders should be kept full throughout the day.
• Remove all pellet bowls for cleaning.
• Remove soiled bedding and replace with clean bedding, if necessary.
• Wipe down sink area, top of feed bin, cart, doors, walls, and wall shelf.
• Sweep ceiling vents. Sweep and mop room aisle.
• Fill out census and check list sheets. Initial daily log.
• Dump garbage in outside dumpsters.

EMERGENCY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

• Immediately notify the IHI Project Manager at 370-3148 or the IHI DVM at 315-783-0304. Also call the lab animal technician on call, (406) 546-2872 and the Facility Manager (210-4700). See emergency procedures posted near hallway phone for other veterinary emergency back-up contacts.
• If the animal is dead, double-bag the body with garbage bags. Place on a flat cart and determine if the animal will be necropsied.  If it will not need to be necropsied, place the double bagged animal in the IHI sheep carcass freezer.
• Log out the sheep's cage card and record date of death on check list sheet, daily log, and USDA log.