Are sheep dumb?

Kondinin group recently published an article about improving sheep production through the use of sheep psychology.

There is a commonly held belief that sheep are dumb. Merino ewes in particular are known to be slower learners than other breeds.

However, sheep have excellent visual memory and research shows they can remember up to 50 different sheep faces.

Sheep also have a great sense of smell, demonstrated when ewes pick out their lamb from dozens of others.

But research has also shown that a ewe can forget her lamb in as little as 4 hours. This trait is essential for her survival if her lamb was to die.

For the last 20 years The University of WA has been developing two genetic merino lines based on temperament.

Temperament is highly heritable in sheep and there are two distinctive types – ‘calm’ and ‘nervous’.

Nervous ewes are more likely to desert their ewes, stress and be less resistant to disease and parasites.

Calm ewes have higher twinning rates and are less likely to stress when being handled.

If producers were more aware of the psychology of sheep there are some management techniques available to increase profitability cheaply and easily.

For more information contact Kondinin Group 08 6263 9111 or Graeme Martin UWA 08 6488 2237.