For hundreds of years , people who prove sheep and goats have used guardian animals to subsist with their stock and deter predators . dog , burros , llamas and on occasion large - tusk cows or steers have served this use .
Any heavy animal that the tidy sum can tie with and feel safe with can work .
It ’s difficult to insure protection of farm animal from gravid predators such as Wolf , bears or cougars , but guardian brute can warn prairie wolf — the most common predator in every geographic neighborhood . Whether you select guardian dogs , llamas or donkeys depends on your situation , stock , terrain and the predators in the area .
Dogs
Guard hotdog breedsare generally prominent — more than 100 pounds — and unfriendly toward other dogs , keeping stray firedog away from the flock . They are breed as work animals , not dearie ; their focus is to detect and deter predators .
Most predators stay on away from dog - protect flocks to avoid being face by the guard frank .
There are many guardian wienerwurst breeds , but the Great Pyrenees is the most widely used in North America . Originally bred by Basque shepherd in the mass between Spain and France , this breed is probably the least aggressive toward hoi polloi , but its thick coat makes it a pathetic choice for hot , humid regions .
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If you have livestock in large pastures and a lot of predators , you might need a more aggressive stock . The Turkish Akbash is call back to be the most fast-growing and protective , though it is a bit littler than most other guardian dogs .
The Anatolian Shepherd is also from Turkey . This magnanimous , impose breed is super devoted to the ruck , but it might be hostile toward man . Being shorthaired , these wienerwurst can withstand blistering weather .
The largest Anatolian - type dogs , often called Kangals , can crusade wolves and bountiful cats , being more gymnastic , faster and more vicious in a fight than other breeds . A large male Anatolian or Kangal weigh 150 to 175 pound .
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The Komondor from Hungary has long , big , felt - like cords of hair similar to dreadlocks ; it protect against conditions and insect bite from Wolf . This stocky coat require a lot of care , and some people just snip it .
These domestic dog weigh 80 to 100 pound and are as tall as 27 inches . They are very protective and territorial .
Read more : Check out these old - school methods of stock protection .
Raising Guardian Dogs
Individual frank alter , no matter of breed , and some work better than others . If you go with a puppy , put it with the flock when it ’s about 2 months old , so it can start attach with the animals it is supposed to protect .
These hot dog must experience with your livestock , not with you , in Holy Order to be guardian animals . They guard and protect the animate being they form on as a pup . It unremarkably takes 12 to 24 month for pups to become effective guardian Canis familiaris .
They intimidate predators by barkingand aggressive behavior , and might attack a predator ifit does n’t leave . Some stay with the livestock all the time , while others favour to ramble the border of the ruck .
Guardian weenie require very minuscule forethought , except more provender ( and feed of higher juicy / get-up-and-go content ) during cold weather condition . Some citizenry provide self - tributary for the dogs . These dogs often take to stay outdoors in all weather condition atmospheric condition , or they might use the same shelter as the sheep they protect . EPPHOTOS / Shutterstock
Donkeys or Burros
A disadvantage to dog is the feed expense . Large dog deplete a lot of dog food , whereas donkey eat what the sheep or Goat wipe out and are ego - sufficient . Donkeys also live longer than dogs and with good direction might furnish 15 or more years of protection .
It usually costs less to buy and maintain donkeys than guard dogs .
Avoid lush pasture or high - quality legume hay ; donkeys have a low DOE requisite and can get too fat or develop metabolic disorders and founder ( an inflammation of the lamina inside the hoof , aka founder ) or hyperlipidaemia ( too much fat in the stock ) .
Donkeys do well on good grass hay and the same basic upkeep you ’d give any equine , include hoof trimming as well as regular vaccinations and deworming .
A donkey can deter predators because if it sees or get word one , it will grind . This loud answer is often enough to make predators leave . Donkeys are very territorial and instinctively aggressive toward canines .
Donkeys can also be formidable — biting , dramatic , kicking andchasing intruders . Horses ( being herd animal ) tend toflee from danger before using their teeth and hoof to protect themselves . A domestic ass ’s fight inherent aptitude is triggered more promptly because in the natural state it generally lived alone .
If a domestic ass bonds to its flock and stays with it , raft member regard the Equus asinus as a protector and gather near it if a vulture advance .
A jenny ( distaff Equus asinus ) with a foal ( offspring less than 1 yr old ) is the best guardian . She ’s exceedingly mistrustful of likely threats .
A foal raise with a flock usually becomes a good protector because it ’s so bonded to and comfortable with its pasture companions . Not all donkey make good farm animal guardian animals . Some are overly strong-growing with the sheep . Jacks ( males ) are n’t commend .
learn more : Here ’s what The Donkey Listener has to say about training donkeys .
Llamas
Some mass utilize llama because the animals can bond with and stay with the flock and tend to approach any canine that comes well-nigh . A predatory animal go up by this large , tall creature generally leaves . Llamas can hold for 15 to 20 years and do n’t require peculiar eating .
Dog - fear stock readily go for llamas . Another welfare is their unagitated , docile disposition .
Llamas can become livestock protectors because they are societal animals that do n’t need to live alone . If one is the only llama in a pasture , it tends to bond with the other animals and be aggressive toward canines .
When the llama sees a predator , it often answer with a high up - pitch scream , comply by posturing , spit and moving toward the piranha . Llamas might charge , tap or stomp on small predator .
Some llamas commit themselves between the threat and their flock or endeavor to herd them off . Llamas by and large scan the skirt area for potential danger or patrol their country . For a diminished herd near your menage , llamas might be able-bodied to dissuade many predators but ca n’t dissuade wolves or cougars .
A undivided llama will have difficulty deterring multiple dogs or a pack of coyotes .
Not all llamas are suited farm animal guardian brute . Some snub dogs . Others run from pawl and are vulnerable to attack themselves .
Immature llamas do n’t have the confidence to guard successfully . A guard llama must be on duty at all multiplication , so it ca n’t be a pet or a pack animal .
female work best . Male llama — even if gelded — might be too fast-growing or might attempt to mate with the sheep .
This article to begin with appeared in the July / August 2020 offspring ofHobby Farmsmagazine .
