[Jacob-list] sensibility Part 3 of 3

[ranchrat]

No worries here that any of our livestock are treated like puppy dogs or
humans.no you will not find me "hugging" the livestock.that is not in my
nature and quite certain the livestock WOULD go violent if they saw me
thundering on over."Oh give us a big hug now!"  OH, blick!  They are
treated, however, better than humans and I've often told people that
every time my spouse completes a livestock building, I want to reside in
it.the critters can have the house, PLEASE!!!  I don't see where my
sheep are treated like puppy dogs-my dogs are Australian Cattle Dogs and
we dunna even wanna go here on what rough housing that breed thinks is
fun-bite, bite, and more bites-regular canine breeds don't find them at
all fun to play with!  LOL

Given a chance to learn how to be a draft animal is not going to ruin
sheep from being sheep.  It gives my boys a job to do, rewards them for
obliging my commands (submitting to my will)/discipline, reduces boredom
and helps promote our wonderful Jacob breed of sheep.  It is more common
to see goats used to draw carts and I actually ended up using a goat
harness as a pattern for braiding up my sheep rigging.  I was torn
between using a solid wooden/leather outfit, but after finding a nice
goat harness example on the Internet, chose that instead.  If anything,
I feel having rams pull a wagon allows them to funnel their
"testosterone" in a positive manner.  They like pulling, they like the
attention, it tires them out in a sensible fashion and when they return
from an outing, they seem to be rather content about the whole ordeal.
Pressure and release, how one trains animals like horses, reward for
appropriate behaviour, sheep are more than capable of these simple
tasks.   

We rehab stock dogs, some come here vicious, lost causes/last chance
before euthanizing.  It is these animals I would be more afraid of than
rams.  You are always on your guard, never knowing what might trigger
off a negative response.  Sheep are much more predictable than dogs you
rescue as I feel predators that have been abused have much more baggage
to set them off, complications.

I am in very good company with Alberta Agricultural Specialists and my
vets; both advocates of body condition scoring your livestock daily,
handling animals without stressing them, and taking action prior to
visually apparent conditions occurring.  Again, this is my definition of
a "good shepherd" and if I were a stock animal, I'd want the same
treatment myself.

Chicken UP!,

Tara Lee Higgins - Rat Ranch, Alberta

Part 3 of 3 END

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