If you have ever had the pleasure of seeing a Fainting Goat tip over after being scared, you know it is quite a comical sight to see.  However, what you may not be aware of is that this breed of goats was originally intended to help protect a farmer’s livestock from natural predators.  For example, in the event that a natural predator, such as a coyote, would come into a flock of sheep or goats the fainting goat in with them would faint from being scared, which would allow the more expensive sheep or goats ample time to get out of harm’s way leaving the fainting goat for dinner. Yes, this does sound a little cruel, but in tough times farmers need to protect their investments and using fainting goats was a cost effective way to do so. Today Fainting Goats are most often a hobby farm novelty, but there are other options to consider if you are looking for ways to protect your livestock.

You most likely considered this natural predator issue when you put in the fencing and the location of pastures, but sometimes Mother Nature is just out of your control.  The way to prevent natural predation from happening at your farm isn’t to kill off all of the natural predators in the area- they have an essential role in the ecosystem. If you kill off wolves because you are afraid that they might kill a sheep or two, this will reduce their numbers, which may mean more crop damage from natural grazers for you in future years. Instead, consider looking into a livestock guardian to help protect your livestock. When thinking about getting a livestock guardian you have a couple different options, including llamas, donkeys, or specific breeds of dogs.

Llamas are a very economical choice for predator control as they are ideal to use for protecting flocks of goats and sheep. Guardian llamas do not require training or need to be raised with the sheep or goats. They eat the same pasture as the goats and sheep are in so they have no special feeding requirements. Also, they need similar vaccinations and have the same schedule for deworming, hoof trimming, and shearing. Llamas excel at being livestock guardians because they have a natural dislike for canines, including wolves, and coyotes. In a situation where the heard is being threatened livestock llamas have been known to chase away the predator, paw or kick the predator, or herd the flock into a safe area. Not all llamas make good livestock guardians so when you are choosing a llama for this purpose make sure they are curious, independent, don’t spook easy, are weary of dogs but not afraid of them, and that they have a good sense of awareness about their surroundings.

Donkeys are another choice and are becoming more popular for protecting sheep and goats. The most important thing to be aware of is that if you want to use a donkey, make sure that you do not use an intact male, as they tend to be aggressive towards livestock. Donkeys also take slightly more time to train to live with and protect the livestock, as they need to bond with them first. It is also best to use only one donkey per group of livestock, but the group must be smaller than 300 head. Also, not all donkeys will respond to a canine in a threatening way, so make sure to test a potential donkey with a dog in a pasture before you expect it to protect your flock. If the donkey wants to protect its surrounding, it will most likely run or chase away the threat and also attempt to bite or kick the canine. The one major disadvantage of using a donkey as a livestock guardian is that they should be removed during lambing or kidding to prevent injuries to the lambs and kids. It is during this time when sheep and goats are most susceptible to predators; so if you know that natural predators are an issue in your area, this may not be the best choice for your situation.

The last option, and perhaps the most popular choice for a livestock guardian, is to use livestock guarding breeds of dogs. Most of these breeds have a long history of protecting livestock that can be traced back to the early livestock domestication in Europe and even Asia. The five most common breeds used for livestock guardians are the Great Pyrenees, Komondor, Akbash Dog, Anatolian Shepherd, and the Maremma. These dogs have been selectively bred for the desired traits that make them good livestock guardians. Although these dogs have natural guardian instincts, they must go through intense training to become good guardians. From the moment of birth to about 20 weeks, good guardian dogs should have minimal human contact so that they can bond with the flock instead of humans. Make sure to choose a puppy that is not shy or very dominant in the litter, as both qualities do not make good livestock guardians- but they may make good pets for someone else, so don’t let that impact your decision about leaving them behind. It can sometimes take up to 2 years for a livestock dog to mature and become an effective guardian, so until then make sure to use some other predator management technique. Purchasing and training a good guardian dog is a substantial investment, but many say it is well worth it. Just make sure to watch your livestock guardian dog to make sure that he or she stays with the flock instead of chasing or playing with them. Most importantly, you need to make sure that your guardian dog does not become aggressive towards humans, so a little human interaction is necessary after they have bonded with the flock. If you are interested in learning more about the qualities of these breeds that make good livestock guardians, check our blog focusing on these specific breeds.

If you are very concerned about the natural predator issue at your farm, make sure to contact your local DNR or wildlife agency, as they will be able to provide you with tips to help you manage the potential threat. With a little work, you and a trusted livestock guardian should be able to rest more soundly at night, knowing that your flock is protected while you sleep.