Livestock Guarding Dogs
Livestock guardian dogs, also known as livestock protection dogs, are generally large — with males weighing more than 100 pounds - and often unfriendly toward other dogs, keeping stray dogs away from the flock. These breeds are bred as working animals, not pets; their focus is to detect and deter predators. Most predators stay away from dog-protected flocks to avoid being confronted by the guardian dog.
There are many guardian dog breeds, but the Great Pyrenees is the most widely used in North America. Originally bred by Basque shepherds in the mountains between Spain and France, this breed is probably the least aggressive toward people, but its thick coat and heavy build often makes it a poor choice for hot regions. Its "bear-shaped" head is an identifying breed trait as its tendency to bark and "posture" to threaten away would be 4-legged intruders.
If you have livestock in large pastures and a lot of predators, you might need a more aggressive breed. The white Akbash Dog from Turkey is considered one of the most predator aggressive and livestock protective. It isn't as heavy boned as the Great Pyrenees and is proportionally longer legged and athletic with a more wolflike head. Males are 30 to 33 inches; females about 2 inches shorter. Like the Great Pyrenees, on small properties it is known to "posture" growl, bark, snarl - as a part of its defense.
Another native Turkish breed, the Kangal Dog, is more mastiff in appearance and is always black-masked dun or fawn. Like the Akbash Dog, it's bite-inhibited (reluctant to bite or even nip) people or its livestock; however, strangers are met with an intimidating stare and an aloof attitude. The breed rarely postures (threatens). It watches and then acts - silently charging a predator. Most recently Kangal Dogs have been successfully introduced to western U.S. sheep producers where grizzly bears and wolves threaten livestock.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November - December 2022 من Hobby Farms.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November - December 2022 من Hobby Farms.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Meet Li Schmidt
At Cultural Roots Nursery, in Winters, California, Li Schmidt grows more than 100 Asian-heritage vegetables, herbs, fruit and trees on 1⁄4 acre.
A DUCK FOR ALL Seasons
Care for ducks throughout the year with this seasonal guide.
Turkeys for the Home Table
Raise your own birds for a tastier and healthier holiday meal.
FLERD is the Word
Explore the benefits and barriers of multispecies pasturing.
raise STRONGER CHICKENS
Look around your kitchen, and you'll likely find some natural poultry supplements.
Winter's Last Stand
Early warm weather followed by a late frost can easily ruin an orchard harvest.
FOWL FACTS
Let's explore some random poultry facts ... from a possible bird brain!
Pumpkins & Gourds
Tyler Swafford’s enthusiasm for raising pumpkins and gourds is contagious. The lifelong farmer, himself the descendent of a lifelong farmer, makes his home on Dayton Mountain overlooking Tennessee’s Sequatchie Valley.
Climate-Resilient Crops
Farmers operating large commercial outfits and smaller, hobby growers alike are facing new challenges season after season.
WHEN THE Queen Abdicates
Without a queen to rule, your hive can't survive.