I've been places where the highway department hires a shepherd, a flock, and a couple of well-trained dogs to mow/graze/beautify the grassy verges either side of the asphalt.
The dogs have all the work, chasing the stupid cars away from their beloved sheep...
I suspect this only works in areas where citizens don't dump much litter into the grass. Otherwise, the grazers would have to be goats.
Why aren't the stewards of the flocks "shep-flockers" rather than shepherds?
Looks like you were down near my corner of the world (NM and surrounding.)
Ovine trivia: if you are trying to replicate how buffalo graze, you need sheep. They clip like bison do, and eat everything, like bison. Domestic cattle are too selective. Sheep also handle heat better, and will graze farther from water.
Tom, that's one reason why buffalo grass and other high plains grasses send out side-shoots (tiller) as well as growing seeds. When they get mowed by a couple thousand bison, they tiller. It allows reproduction without risking more loss to grazers.
That's interesting. So, actually ideal for sheep as well, then. I know in some places that kind of grazing can result in soil erosion, but it sounds like those grasses would resist that.
So how'd you learn about this? I don't think bison grazing habits are terribly common knowledge.
10 comments:
Now you got to watch out, hanging around sheep down there.
https://youtu.be/ZQvT4vfd2HA
Indeed!
Wyoming where the men are men and the sheep are scared.
“Sheepherder came by and put up a fence…”
https://youtu.be/jmWulPPWYDI
I've been places where the highway department hires a shepherd, a flock, and a couple of well-trained dogs to mow/graze/beautify the grassy verges either side of the asphalt.
The dogs have all the work, chasing the stupid cars away from their beloved sheep...
I suspect this only works in areas where citizens don't dump much litter into the grass. Otherwise, the grazers would have to be goats.
Why aren't the stewards of the flocks "shep-flockers" rather than shepherds?
J, that is a very good question. Someone should start a movement to get that changed.
Looks like you were down near my corner of the world (NM and surrounding.)
Ovine trivia: if you are trying to replicate how buffalo graze, you need sheep. They clip like bison do, and eat everything, like bison. Domestic cattle are too selective. Sheep also handle heat better, and will graze farther from water.
LittleRed1
LR1, certainly closer to you than I was to Grim. Great area, no cell service, stayed at a spot w/ no internet. Had a good break from electronics.
Interesting about the sheep. I knew they clipped, but didn't know bison did.
Tom, that's one reason why buffalo grass and other high plains grasses send out side-shoots (tiller) as well as growing seeds. When they get mowed by a couple thousand bison, they tiller. It allows reproduction without risking more loss to grazers.
LittleRed1
That's interesting. So, actually ideal for sheep as well, then. I know in some places that kind of grazing can result in soil erosion, but it sounds like those grasses would resist that.
So how'd you learn about this? I don't think bison grazing habits are terribly common knowledge.
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