Transporting animals: Sheep and Cattle

It is much easier to move a group of sheep than to try to separate one or a few from a flock. It is sometimes more efficient to sort (draft or cut a small group from a large flock using a gate. A well trained dog or another person is essential. It is often easier to take the whole group to the yards even when just a few are needed.
There is a high risk of smothering when a large group of sheep is run through a narrow gap, such as a gate in a rotational grazing system. The risk is reduced by adopting the following measures.
  1. Move the group uphill where possible
  2. Place a person immediately before the gap to cut off the flow
  3. Be particularly careful when a downhill movement leads to a stream crossing, culvert, gate, or other narrow area
  4. Stresses such as the presence of dogs and noise should be eliminated if possible to let the sheep look ahead to see where they are going. When there is too much stress, sheep mill around climb on each other's backs.
Sheep can be driven easily by dogs or people. Sheep that are kept in restricted spaces like fields learn to respond to dogs by forming a group. Feral sheep, on the other hand scatter when attempts are made to muster them with dogs. Once domestic sheep are in a group, they try to maintain a certain distance (flight distance) between themselves and the dog and so move away on the dog's approach. Single sheep also maintain a flight distance. Whey they cannot escape, they are likely to turn and face the dog or run past it to escape from confinement.
When driving sheep along public roads, have one person at the front to warn oncoming traffic and control the rate of movement and a more experienced person behind to move them forward. Sheep are "followers" animals, and will therefore naturally follow other sheep. They will also follow people who feed them regularly.
For cattle and buffaloes, as well as sheep, driving is the most economical way to move the animals, at least for short distances. It is essential that an adequate supply of food and water be available at suitable points along the route. All farm stock should be kept to a a well defined track because,
  1. Facilities for feeding and watering will often be available, 
  2. Wandering animals may spread diseases in the region through which they pass and can be properly checked by authorities on well defined roads.
Animals lose body weight while moving, THis loss can be minimized by proper scheduling of feeding and watering. Indigenous cattle are well served if ad libitum water supply points are locaated about 20 Km apart. Mutton sheep going to market should get water at intervals of about 10 Km, otherwise they will lose a large amount of body weight.
Cattle, including buffaloes, can be driven easily for about 30 - 35 Km a day, and sheep for half that distance. In summer, driving during the hottest part of day should be avoided. Whenever possible, animals should be driven on soft ground and not on hard roads.