Jim and I have noticed that sage grouse broods seem to be larger, and do better, in pastures where our sheep are grazing. Our observations are anecdotal of course, but we figure there are a couple of reasons why grouse do well with livestock grazing. The presence of our guardian animals (both guardian dogs …
Tag: livestock guardians
In Effigy
And Cat’s Sheep!
Also just out: Cat Urbigkit’s Shepherds of Coyote Rocks, her first adult book, a distillation and amplification of what you have come to love here and a leap forward for her. This is the most nuanced and intelligent defense of the traditional pastoral life in print, by a writer who lives it and has heard …
Wool harvest
Yesterday was shearing day for our herd. First, we crowd the sheep up the loading chute and into the shearing plant. My lead sheep, named Assistant Sheep, sticks her head over the top of the chute to let me know of her displeasure. As the crew of shearers work, each fleece is kicked out the …
Herding sheep, and words
It’s been such a long time since I’ve posted, and I have missed the blog much in the last few months. Our sheep and guardian animals are all fine and wintering well. We’ve moved the herd to the pasture at our house, so my “checking the sheep” sometimes only involves looking out the window. When …
Guardian dance
Roo the burro and Rena the Akbash had a gentle dispute again this afternoon, and it resembled a beautiful dance in the snow. Valentine the new bearded pup was venturing outside the yard, and Roo made a beeline to see her, with Rena letting her objection be known.Apparently it looked like so much fun that …