Ask Hightower: Guard donkeys with the Texas Department of Agriculture?
Ask Hightower: Guard donkeys with the Texas Department of Agriculture?
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Over on Twitter, Brandon posted:
Hightower answers:
Oh yezzz, of the many times I've been called a political ass, this is one moment of kindred pride when I could parade out donkeys, llamas, and other friendly creatures that really do align with us human beasts to protect sheep and other critters we herd for our food & fiber. Poison is not the only way to go--a vicious kick, spit, bark, and other natural deterrents will back off coyotes, etc. You don't need to be gouged by DuPont or Dow if you've got a real honest ass working for you.
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Honest asses are sooo hard to find!
Donkeys will certainly protect sheep because they are very territorial. Dogs seem to work best with sheep, if they are raised with the sheep in the pasture under the guidance of other previously trained dogs.
Training them requires a specialized program. The dog must become part of the flock and live with the flock 24/7. You can't just put a dog in the pasture with a flock of sheep and expect the animal to guard the sheep instinctively. If you do it, it will just follow you home.
The best system I've seen is that of a rancher in Missouri named Greg Judy. He has developed a system that is second to none and he teaches his system to other ranchers. He has a very interesting YouTube channel that focuses on regenerative agriculture.