[Jacob-list] That sound the sheep make

[Jacobflock at aol.com]

In a message dated 6/28/01 11:49:14 AM Central Daylight Time, 
snielsen at orednet.org writes:

<< So, I need some opinions: the sounds that sheep make, can they be
 called "lowing?" I sure hope so, because otherwise there just
 isn't much poem here:
            --
     Poem in Honor of a Small Flock of Rare Sheep
 
    In the morning or the evening
    When I go to feed them,
    I hear them calling to each other
    Or to me.
 
    It makes me high to hear them low! >>

If it works, great.

Sheep actually bleat.  Bleats apparently have breed specificity ("Variations 
in the structure of bleats of four different breeds', E. Shillito Walser, 
Behavior, 1980) and the Jacob had a small range of fundametal frequencies 
(compared to other breeds) and the frequency of the bleat may be familial.  
The bleat of the Jacob is like a cat whistle...it gets one's attention, then 
you look to see who it is, then you decide to do something.  The Jacobs 
studied were actually rather poor at linking ewe and lamb by bleating.

"In the morning or in the evening when I go to feed them,....
    Ewe touched me high, he ramed me low"

Egawds; Fred