Husbandry of Dairy Animals | Predator Control in Goats and Sheep

Abstract

Since the domestication of sheep and goats 10,000–12,000 years ago, predation has been a problem. For a species of predator to be a problem, it must either become too abundant or be unacceptable for man to share livestock with predators. Although most species of domestic livestock are subject to predation, the problem has the greatest impact on sheep and goat producers. There is evidence that predation or the threat of predation has a major effect on numbers of sheep and goats both within and between countries. Some countries with large sheep numbers, such as Australia and New Zealand, were initially free of most natural predators. This continues to be the case in New Zealand, while predators introduced to Australia include dingo, foxes and feral swine. Because the sheep industry is of great importance in Australia, control efforts have received both government and public support. In many other countries (e.g., United States and Scandinavia), there are ever-increasing restrictions on the methods and level of control. Predation is becoming an increasingly important problem for sheep and goat producers in many areas due to both restrictions on control and maintenance of flocks under extensive conditions with fewer people involved in their care.