NISKU, Alta. — Gord Schroeder says it’s not uncommon for him to grab a lawn chair and simply watch his sheep.
The Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board manager isn’t admiring his animals. Instead, he’s trying to figure out their behaviour.
“If you have a basic understanding of sheep behaviour, it will make raising and handling sheep less stressful for both the sheep and shepherd,” Schroeder told a recent Alberta Sheep Breeders Association meeting.
“It will also dismiss the notion that sheep are stupid.”
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He said knowing how sheep think and react to situations is key to reducing handler frustration and helping the animals move more smoothly.
“You need to think like a sheep and just be one step ahead of them,” said Schroeder, who believes producers should design their sheep operations around their handling systems.
“Remember, modest equipment and good planning will work better than expensive equipment and poor planning.”
He said sheep don’t like sharp contrasts and shadows. Something as simple as hanging a light bulb in a dark corner will make them more willing to move into that area.
Schroeder said it’s sometimes easier for producers to move sheep by themselves without help. The animals have excellent hearing and are sensitive to loud noises, he added, and stressed sheep are more difficult to handle.
“Familiar calm voices reduce the animals’ stress.”
He said producers who understand normal sheep behaviour have an easier time detecting abnormal behaviour, which helps identify what’s causing the problem. For example, a nervous flock in the morning often means predation pressure at night. As well, an animal or flock with no appetite or energy means something is amiss.
Schroeder also said it’s helpful to remember that sheep love sheep. They run away from things that scare them and run toward each other. Having a few sheep in a pen where you want the rest of the flock to go encourages them to move forward.
He said he has also noticed sheep like to move uphill rather than downhill, and they don’t like moving from one kind of floor surface to another.
Schroeder’s sheep were recently hesitant to travel up the handling system, which had never been a problem before. Instead of fighting with the animals he dropped down on all fours and moved through the handling system at sheep height.
That’s how he noticed a red coat hanging on the wall. When it was removed, the sheep were once again easy to move.
“Understanding sheep behaviour and why they are doing what they’re doing has saved me a lot of labour and increased my productivity.”
