Survey among keepers of endangered sheep and goat breeds on the influence of wolves on animal husbandry

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

As Germany's wolf population is steadily becoming more widespread, conflicts with livestock owners are increasing. In this context, the wolves' impact on grazing livestock is of particular interest. The study aimed to investigate the wolves' influence on the husbandry of endangered sheep and goat breeds. Thus, livestock owners were interviewed about the types of measures taken to protect their herds against wolf predation. A questionnaire consisting of 11 questions was published online by the "Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen e. V. (GEH)" and completed anonymously by 494 sheep and goat owners from all over Germany. 33 % of the endangered sheep breeds and 80 % of the endangered goat breeds are owned by fewer than ten of the livestock owners, who predominantly keep these animals as a hobby or as a supplementary source of income. The cessation of livestock husbandry by any of these owners may therefore have a significant negative impact on the continued existence of the breed in question. However, the mean herd sizes of the studbook breeds do not indicate any negative impact on animal numbers in recent years, although the majority of respondents consider their grazing livestock to be threatened by wolves. It is noteworthy that significantly more livestock owners situated far away from wolf habitats expressed the wish to discontinue their husbandry as opposed to those within range of wolf habitats. Preventative measures mentioned most frequently are fencing and enclosures as well as avoiding certain areas entirely. The use of guard dogs does not seem to play a major role. The abandonment of animal husbandry by individual farmers poses the risk of reducing breed diversity in small ruminants. Therefore, they need special protection, which must be taken into account when planning and defining compensation measures.