What can sheep teach us about shelter use?

Abstract

Over many years there has been limited success in encouraging sheep to use shelter and a poor understanding of why they choose to use shelter the way they do. Have we misunderstood sheep use of shelter and if so are sheep sensible in their use of existing shelter based on climate and topography? The information gathered in this research should address this question and more. Over three lambing seasons a random sample of five ewes from each of the two flocks of 200 - 300 ewes were fitted with GPS collars. The GPS collars provided continuous (51 days) observation of the ewes' movements and use of shelter in two paddocks with varying shelter designs on a commercial property in the Northern Tablelands, NSW. Weather stations and temperature loggers were strategically located throughout the paddock to provide localized measures of temperature, wind speed and precipitation that will be correlated to paddock and shelter use by the flocks. These data will give insight into sheep choice of shade and shelter use within a paddock relative to climatic conditions post shearing and during lambing. If sheep are reluctant to use perimeter shelter currently provided by producers, can they be encouraged or attracted to shelter during inclement weather?