Wild canines had been a serious drawback for NSW farmer Butch Pilley, killing as much as 30 sheep an evening on his Hill End property.
But three years on from introducing two educated donkeys as guardian animals, not a single killing has been recorded on the central tablelands farm.
“The impact that the donkeys have had has been quite remarkable,” stated Mr Pilley.
Dogs had been killing totally grown sheep in addition to dozens of lambs.
“One year we lost around 250 lambs with a follow-on impact on ewes lambing in the following years,” stated the sheep farmer.
“So the cost could easily add up to $30,000, plus the stress of having to come down every morning and find your sheep dead or maimed,” he stated.
The Pilleys and different landholders within the space had suffered vital livestock losses from wild canine assaults, with financial, welfare and emotional prices.
“You could come down to a paddock in the morning and find twenty to thirty sheep killed in one night,” Mr Pilley stated.
But in a trial sponsored by the Local Land Services educated donkeys have been launched to the Hill End sheep farm, and the influence was instant.
“Since we’ve started, there have been no attacks from wild dogs on sheep with the donkeys in the mob … it’s been a great outcome,” stated LLS biosecurity officer Paul Gibb.
“Donkeys are well-matched against a wild dog and can be quite aggressive,” Mr Gibb stated.
“They can strike at a dog with their feet and grab it with their mouths, so they’re very good defensive animals.”
The LLS stated whereas donkeys are properly suited as guardian animals they should be bonded fastidiously with livestock first.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
