DODGING SHEEP.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 47, 19 June 1917, Page 7

DODGING SHEEP.

By "Crowfoot,” in the ‘Pastoral .Review.” The word "dodging” is an appellation applied to shepherding, or droving sheep, and is an Australian invention given to the occupation by old-time drovers and shepherds, and as both these personages are nearly defunct, the term has gone out of general use. It is a pity that the craft of these men is not more in vogue to-day, as it would save us from many a blunder. The majority of persons assuming the name of drovers or shepherds are only sheep hunters.

A drover’s duties are somewhat different to those of a shepheid. He is the man who conveys sheep from one part of the country to another, while a shepherd tends his flock in one locality, and sees to its protection and general well-being. On a holding very little shepherding of thcl old type is done now, because all holdings are fenced into paddocks.

The drover, however* is very much in evidence, especially in droughty times. He is to be seen on all the roads, either taking sheep to where there ‘is pasture or delivering a lot that have been sold. t To be a good drover require* experience and a thorough knowledge of the manner and.habits of the animals when at large and in repose. He must also be observant, and, above all, have great patience, as sheep at times are to us most perverse and stupid, 'and if a drover does not have himself in hand some of the sheep are apt to suffer. In dry times or on bad roads is where the ingenuity of the man comes in. He must see that they do not perish for want of water, and also that the head of the flock docs not get all there is while the tail or weak ones starve. At these times the mob should not exceed 1500 sheep at most; in fact, the fewer the bettei 4 ; and the head of the flock should be changed to the tail after morning camp. This is best done by cutting off the weaker ones as they trail out of the dinner camp, and sending them on ahead towards the night camp. The stronger ones can thus be started on with a man and dog at the head of them, to keep them steady, and prevent them, overtaking the weak ones in front.

A good steady dog, well under control, is worth all the men you could profitably use to dodge up the stragglers. The dog, if properly broken, will do it so carefully and so quietly that the sheep will hardly feel his presence. THE DROVER.

A drover must thoroughly understand the gregarious habits of sheep, and the manner in which they spread when feeding unmolested. Sheep always feed best with their heads to the .wind, so he should, as far as is practicable, let them face the wind when travelling or feeding if he should have the luck to get a stock route to travel on.

No matter how bare the feed is, the sheep will do better with a good spread than jammed up in a narrow road, where they have to touch one another to feed.

Further, zig-zag them, as it is better than letting them draw straight along, by the first means they get a whiff of air in their faces, and by the latter perhaps none.

Many drovers (or sheephunters of the present day would be more appropriate) are men of no experience, and being as a rule paid so much for the job, only think of getting to their destination in the quickest time, with the result that their death rate is often 20 pet cent, more than the good man that is paid by the day ; moreover, the sheep are much more jaded and otherwise depleted of their strength, of which they require every ounce to travel any distance on the stock roads as they are at

present. There is more loss from bad droving, especially in bad times, than would pay the supervision and improvement of stock roads five times over.