Bonding of sheep to cattle as an effective technique for predation control

TitleBonding of sheep to cattle as an effective technique for predation control
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1987
AuthorsHulet CV, Anderson D.M., Smith J.N, Shupe, W. Larry
JournalApplied Animal Behavior Science
Volume19
Pagination19-25
Date Published1987
Abstract

Nine lambs that had been bonded to cattle were placed with 7 heifers in pastures frequented by coyotes (Canis latrans) to determine whether multi-species grazing with bonded lambs would reduce predation. Unbonded lambs were grazed alone in a nearby pasture. Bonded lambs with cattle and unbonded lambs were rotated among pastures to reduce pasture bias. None of the bonded lambs were lost to predation during the entire 163-day study (Trials 1, 2 and 3). Four of 8 unbonded lambs were lost, presumably to predators, during a 19-day period, and 9 of 15 unbonded lambs and ewes were lost to predation during a later 43-day period. Bonding sheep to cattle may be an effective method for reducing coyote depredation on sheep.

URL/files/bibliography/318.pdf
DOI10.1016/0168-1591(87)90198-5