LIVESTOCK GUARDIANS. Goats are susceptible to attacks from predators such as coyotes or a pack of local dogs out on the loose. A good fence will help keep predators away from the goats, but many goat farmers choose to also have some form of livestock guardian animal. Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGD) live full time with the goats/sheep and usually do an excellent job of protecting their herd from intruders. Many breeds have been used as guard dogs, ranging from mixed breeds to traditional guard breeds such as Great Pyrennes, Kommondor, Akbash, Anatolian and Maremma. Three traits are essential for a good guard animal: it must bond with the animals it is protecting, it must be courageous in the face of a predator, and it must accept the responsibility of its job. To bond with the goats/sheep, the dogs should be introduced to them as puppies when 8 to 12 weeks. As to training, the willingness to COME WHEN CALLED and to understand what NO means, may suffice. Most farmers try NOT to turn their livestock guard dogs into pets, as this is a distraction from the dog’s work. Goats with horns are somtimes used to protect goats/sheep from preditors.
A SINGLE DONKEY, usually a jennet, sometimes a gelding (jacks rarely work because they can be too aggressive with kids) is introduced to the herd and undergoes a bonding stage. After it has bonded with the goats/sheep, it will protect them against canine predators (fox, coyote, dogs) as it would one of its own. This is extremely beneficial in areas where the goats/sheep have many acres to graze. The advantage of the donkey over the guardian dog is that they can eat the same food as the goat/sheep so they don't have to be fed separately. However, feeds containing anabolic agents, such as monensin (Rumensin) and lasalacid (Bovatec) are poisonous to donkeys. The donkey will also bed down with the goat/sheep at night. Hearing a strange sound the donkey will voice a warning to the flock which alerts them to danger. Then the donkey will chase and often trample the predator. Miniature Donkeys are not usually large enough to handle the coyotes, and Mammoth Donkeys are usually too slow.
BURRO: A word taken directly from Spain. It means the common, everyday working donkey (36-48 inches) found in Spain and Mexico. It came into usage in the Western United States. As a general rule, the term burro is heard west of the Mississippi and the term donkey, east of the Mississippi.
(A) DONKEY/BURRO & GUARDIAN ANIMALS LINKS
(B) OTHER GUARDIAN ANIMALS LINKS
(3) GOAT WORKING YARDS, HANDLING & TRANSPORT
(5) FEEDING, NUTRITION & BRUSH GOATS
(7) BUCK MANAGEMENT & ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
(8) GOAT GENETICS, WILD GOATS & PYGMY GOATS
"Guardian animals are not a cure-all for all predator problems. Although the use and effectiveness of guardian animals has increased, some livestock producers continue to require other predator damage control measures in addition to their livestock guardians."
---LIVESTOCK GUARDIANS: California Department of Food and Agriculture---
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"He that hath no sword,
let him sell his garment and buy one."
---(Luke 22:36)---
The best use of Livestock Guardian Dogs is working in alliance with shepherds. A dog barks an alarm when he spots a predator and one or more shepherds come and deal with the situation.
But guardian dogs often work independently when a shepherd leaves a flock unattended. If there are no shepherds about and a guardion dog detects a predator, the dog stands his ground, barks and may force a predator to retreat. If the predator persists, the dog may threaten and charge. As a last resort dog and predator may end up fighting.
Shepherds use both methods in the Carpathian Mountains in eastern Europe where five million sheep share their range with over three thousand wolves.
Do not confuse guardian dogs with herding dogs. Guardian dogs do not generally herd their charges and are often left alone with them. Herding dogs work with a handler, obeying his commands to muster livestock, and are not usually left alone with them. Herding dogs may not be tollerated by Guardian Animals.
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(A) DONKEY AND GUARDIAN ANIMALS LINKS
(B) OTHER GUARDIAN ANIMALS LINKS