7 Things you didn't know about sheep
Here are seven facts you might not have know about these lovely four legged creatures.
The Red Jasper sheep grazing in a pasture.
1: They can be taught tricks
It may seem outrageous, but our sheep at the sanctuary have picked up some basic dog tricks such as jump, heel, and spin. Because sheep are so motivated by food, they will do just about anything for it. They also have a pretty good memory that enables them to remember what got them snacks in the past, and how to replicate it again. For example; our sheep Pedro has mastered jumping on command for snacks. Our sheep Spirit is also getting pretty good at spin and heel. The only problem is while sheep do love food, they also don't really have the "need" to please that dogs do, meaning that once they've had all the snacks they want, they might decide to just stare at you like you're crazy. Except one sheep at the sanctuary- Pedro- who just decides after he’s jumped a few times that he just wants scratches and snuggles.
2: They are actually very emotional
Despite the myth that sheep are not the brightest and don't feel many emotions, they are actually very affectionate. They form bonds with other sheep, other animals and even humans. They often have their little BFF groups, and even come running up to their favorite people for love. After a devastating loss of a flock or family member, all of us at the sanctuary have noticed that sheep sometimes even cry, just like humans do.
3: They were domesticated around 3000 B.C.
Humans and sheep have been together a long time. Depictions of sheep can be seen in books and art from Mesopotamia and Babylonia back in 3000 B.C.- about 5,026 years ago!
4: They are part of the Bovidae family
Yep, sheep are bovids, meaning they are in the same family as cattle, goats, antelope, bison, buffalo, and gazelles. Bovids are defined by their horns. Despite some domesticated species, all male bovids have horns. A good way to tell a bovid from a cervid, (Deer family) is that bovids all have unbranched horns. Another tip about bovids is that it's not only males who have horns, some females do too. They are also all cloven-hoofed ruminant mammals.
5: They almost have 360-degree vision
Thanks to their rectangular pupils, sheep can see to about 320 degrees. This enables them to see behind them without even turning their heads. They are also believed to be able to see color, but not as well as humans. But despite their incredible range of vision, they don't have the best depth perception.
6: Their wool never stops growing
This is why they need sheared every year. If their wool gets too long, it gets very heavy. This is also why sheep can't be released into the wild, because over the past 5,026 something years, sheep have been bred to be reliant on humans to shear them. But there is one exception to that statement, hair sheep. Some sheep breeds have short hair that sheds, like a dog's, but the vast majority of sheep have to be sheared annually.
7: They have worked for famous people
President Woodrow Wilson kept a flock at the White House to keep the grass down, and sheep have even been implemented to keep grass mowed at Buckingham Palace! Quite a good idea really, because not only do sheep keep grass short, but also greatly contribute to the soil . They add fertilizer to keep it healthy. This is why we are planning on implementing them to help our grass and soil here at Red Jasper this year.