After a donkey killed a coyote in the 1980’s, somehow this notion that they are protectors spread like wild fire. They’ll also kill chickens, cats, dogs, rabbits……anything they deem as trespassers in their pasture. They either attack the adults or the kids, calves, lambs, etc. Every week, my Facebook rescue page receives messages pleading me to take their jacks because they are killing what they’ve been forced to protect. I beg you to please remove donkeys from this list. Sources: Cattle Death Loss, USDA NASS, Sheep and Goat Death Loss, USDA NASS Llamas have a very long lifespan that allows them to put in an average 20-30 years protection service. Camelids are ruminants with similar health, hoof, and shearing needs to sheep.īig Benefit. Llamas can be fed the same as sheep or goats.
They should be introduced in a small and safe setting until bonded.Ĭare. Llamas do not need to be raised with a herd or flock. Castrated males or females are recommended.
#RUNNING SHEEP KICKS MAN IN BARN FULL#
Camelids reach full protection potential at about 18 months of age. It will strike and stomp the predator to death. When a llama spots an intruder it charges, kicks and spits. They bond easily with small ruminants, and fit well in any herd or flock.
Llamas are instinctively herding animals.
#RUNNING SHEEP KICKS MAN IN BARN FREE#
It is possible to acquire a low-cost or free donkey from an equine rescue facility. They can eat the same feed as goats or sheep as long as it is not medicated for small ruminants.īig benefit. They require regular hoof trimming, worming, and vaccinations. Caution must be taken during birthing season when a donkey might accidently step on and crush baby sheep or goats.Ĭare. Donkeys require no special training, but takes 4-6 weeks of interaction to bond a donkey with a flock or herd. A castrated male or female donkey is recommended. A single donkey can protect up to 300 head. Last year a fellow goat farmer boasted his guard donkey for fighting off a pack of wild dogs and saving his herd. They have great eyesight and hearing to detect predators.ĭonkeys are naturally territorial animals that alert farmers of intruders with their noisy “HeeHaw!” They challenge intruders by charging, kicking and biting. Donkeysĭespite their nickname and reputation of stubbornness, donkeys are smart and effective livestock guardians. Unlike donkeys and llamas, dogs can provide protection on the open range- no fence required. Food and regular vet care are on-going costs of dog ownership.īig benefit. A certified trainer charges $600 – $3000. The price of a registered livestock protection breed can cost hundreds to thousands dollars depending on breed and bloodlines. Dogs are the most expensive livestock protection animals to purchase and keep. A dog reaches full protection potential at 18-36 months of age.Ĭare. They are trained to stay near stock and keep a watchful eye. Pups are placed with animals at 8-12 weeks of age. Dogs should be raised with livestock so that they will bond with the stock, not human handlers. A single dog may be enough to protect a small herd, but multiple dogs work together to watch over a large herd. Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherds, Akbash and Maremma are breeds reputed to be superior livestock guardians, but many farmers and ranchers argue a well-trained mutt is just as effective.Ī good livestock protection dog is intelligent, hardy to all weather conditions, loves work and has a manageable prey drive so that it does not turn on the livestock it is supposed to be protecting.ĭogs protect livestock by aggressively pursuing predators, chasing-off or taking-out. Dogs, donkeys and llamas are proven protectors. Livestock guardians keep vulnerable stock safe.
That’s an estimated $137.7 million loss ( USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service).Ĭoyote, wild dogs, fox, coons and birds of prey top the list of predators that plague farmers in our region. 647,200 head livestock were lost to predators on American farms and ranches in 2010. Predators can be a big problem for farmers.
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