# Sheep as lawn mowers. What's the down side? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 26, 2010, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770 "2010-05-26T00:33:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/41 "2010-05-26T18:44:20Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Sheep have been selectively bred for stupidity. And, as my friend the vet would no doubt agree, they did a bit too well at that. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/42 "2010-05-26T18:46:45Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > There is, of course, no down side to a sheep. You get down off a duck. _applause_ ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/43 "2010-05-26T19:19:21Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > Done in one. > > Also, sheep are amazingly stupid animals. I had a friend in the UK who was studying to be a vet. She said that sheep are so stupid, they don’t even recognize their own lambs after they’re born, so the farmers have to make sure that the lambs get to know who their parents are. After one birthing session, my friend was relieved to see mama sheep purposefully walking towards her newborn lamb. > > Then mama sheep peed all over her lamb’s head. Sounds like she was marking it with her scent. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/44 "2010-05-26T21:13:37Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > If you had cattle to accomplish the task, they would be lawn mooers. \ \ \ We have a winnnahhhhh! ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/45 "2010-05-27T00:04:57Z")
Well, I can tell you that they will get stuck inside your fence, not be able to get out, eat your roses to nubs, fall into the pool, swim circles in the deep end and crap all over your patio while your kids chase them all over the yard. Then a momma sheep will flee, leaving her lamb with it’s head stuck in your fence. At least that’s what happened to me last year with the ones hired by the HOA to clear the hillside. /wishes I had video ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/46 "2010-05-27T00:11:35Z")
> [@Sue\_Duhnym](#): > > Well, I can tell you that they will get stuck inside your fence, not be able to get out, eat your roses to nubs, fall into the pool, swim circles in the deep end and crap all over your patio while your kids chase them all over the yard. Then a momma sheep will flee, leaving her lamb with it’s head stuck in your fence. > > At least that’s what happened to me last year with the ones hired by the HOA to clear the hillside. > > /wishes I had video That almost seems worth it though. Life is otherwise so dull sometimes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/47 "2010-05-27T00:19:37Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > That almost seems worth it though. Life is otherwise so dull sometimes. 🙂 Well, it certainly was funny afterwards. Especially when I asked my daughter why she had been barking and she replied, “I was pretending to be a sheepdog.” ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/48 "2010-05-27T01:10:06Z")
> [@Sue\_Duhnym](#): > > Well, I can tell you that they will get stuck inside your fence, not be able to get out, eat your roses to nubs, fall into the pool, swim circles in the deep end and crap all over your patio while your kids chase them all over the yard. Then a momma sheep will flee, leaving her lamb with it’s head stuck in your fence. > > At least that’s what happened to me last year with the ones hired by the HOA to clear the hillside. > > /wishes I had video That is what will happen. Also your lawn will be eaten at uneven levels - so if appearances bother you that will a down side. & if you want to go away you’ll have to arrange for someone to keep an eye on them. Someone further up mentioned that goats are nearly as dumb. We’ve owned 2 & looked after a third & I haven’t found that. But I also found they weren’t that keen on eating grass. Rose bushes :rolleyes: & any other valued plants are their favoured diet. & they can be really expert escape artists - which won’t endear you to your neighbours. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/49 "2010-05-27T02:13:59Z")
You can’t knit a sweater from a lawnmower. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSiZPEUfFnM](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSiZPEUfFnM) ---
**Author:** ![HepToTheJive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@HepToTheJive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HepToTheJive)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/50 "2010-05-27T02:36:09Z")
Lived on a sheep farm for a little while…I think it’s going to be a lot more trouble then it’s worth for you. There is a lot to it, as others have mentioned. On a similar note I hope none of you ever have to scoop a dead lamb into a bucket and carry it a quarter mile up to the compost pile. ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/51 "2010-05-27T03:58:22Z")
Also you have to consider lifespan - unless you are intending to have them butchered. This site says 8-11 years. > **[How old can a sheep get? - Answers](https://www.answers.com/zoology/How_old_can_a_sheep_get)** > > Maturity is affected by breed type, genetics, body size, > nutrition and season of birth. The average maturity time is > approximately 5-12 months of age. However, lambs should not start > to reproduce until at least 12 months. Our goat is a well loved pet (even though my husband went behind my back to get her :mad: ) We estimate her age at 17 (she was an adult when we got her 13 years ago) Are you sure you will still be living in the same place in 10 years time? & in our case with Petunia, my husband is going to have the problem of digging a deep hole & burying her when she dies - & his back isn’t the best! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/52 "2010-05-27T04:15:40Z")
You have to deal with neighbors who complain that your lawn mowers are having sex. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/53 "2010-05-27T13:30:42Z")
Not sheep, but goats — I know someone who has these [fainting goats](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we9_CdNPuJg). ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/54 "2010-05-27T15:52:51Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Not sheep, but goats — I know someone who has these [fainting goats](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we9_CdNPuJg). OMG I love those things. BOO! \ BOO! \ I probably shouldn’t get them. I love animals and tend to afford them more respect than people, and I still wouldn’t be able to stop myself from going BOO! \ ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/55 "2010-05-27T16:17:51Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > You have to deal with neighbors who complain that your lawn mowers are having sex. Or with neighbors who have … no, I’m not going to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/56 "2010-05-27T20:51:44Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I personally prefer goats. Yes, but sheep go to heaven; goats go to hell. Cows are also saved, because they believe in the teachings of Mooses. ---
**Author:** ![Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Long_Time_First_Time)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/57 "2010-05-27T21:18:22Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > If they hadn’t been domesticated, how would they recognize their own babies, then? Also, why would they really even have to? Like, why would they have to walk towards their babies–once it gives birth, doesn’t the lamb just stay with it? Sheep in Indiana certainly know their own lambs. Don’t ask me how I know…🙂 ---
**Author:** ![toodlepip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/97f17d/32.png) [@toodlepip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toodlepip)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/58 "2010-05-27T23:29:44Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > Done in one. > > Also, sheep are amazingly stupid animals. I had a friend in the UK who was studying to be a vet. She said that sheep are so stupid, they don’t even recognize their own lambs after they’re born, so the farmers have to make sure that the lambs get to know who their parents are. After one birthing session, my friend was relieved to see mama sheep purposefully walking towards her newborn lamb. > > Then mama sheep peed all over her lamb’s head. They’re probably [not as stupid as we think](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&uid=11700543&cmd=showdetailview&indexed=google). Anyway, what you’re referring to is called mismothering. It can be a big problem for sheep farmers, especially in more intensive farming, but the vast majority of sheep get it right. Mismothering isn’t a sign of stupidity. From the Scottish Agricultural College: > [@](#): > > Maternal behaviour in sheep is made up of two components: general care-giving behaviour (e.g. allowing the lamb to suck, being attentive to the lamb, showing concern when the lamb is not present) and ‘selectivity’ (forming an attachment only to her own lambs and restricting her maternal care to those lambs). > Ewes show both aspects of maternal behaviour to their lambs as a result of hormonal changes occurring in later pregnancy and during birth. Ewes are initially attracted to a birth site, usually where the birth fluids have been spilt, and this attraction is transferred to the lamb after birth. For a short period of 30-60 minutes the ewe will then be receptive to forming a bond with a particular lamb(s), thereafter she will only show maternal care to those lambs. If the ewe and lamb become separated during this period the ewe may fail to bond successfully to her own lamb leading to mismothering and lamb death. > > The ewe-lamb bond is formed initially through smell so the high levels of maternal licking shown at birth are important for the bond to be made. It seems that the higher the level of licking the stronger the bond formed by the ewe to the lamb. Within a few hours of birth the ewe is also able to recognise her lamb by sight and by the sound of its bleats. When sheep are stressed by handling and human interference, when they’re grouped together in large numbers and can’t split off from the herd to give birth, when they don’t have enough time to bond with their lambs and learn to recognise them, when there are pregnant and hormonal ewes nearby trying to steal their lambs, that’s when they struggle. Also, there are breed variations, some are much better mothers than others. Mismothering also happens in other species, particularly with assisted births. ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/59 "2010-05-28T00:24:51Z")
FWIW, don’t go with goats either. The HOA did it again, and yesterday we got 530 goats (and two of the biggest, dirtiest dogs I’ve ever seen) delievered. How do I know it is 530? Well, one of the goats got it’s head stuck in my fence while eating my landscaping so I got to ask the farmer directly. They’re freaking efficient though. What yesterday was a field with waist-high weeds and grass is now shorn to the ground. Also, the big tree back there, with the branches that nearly reached the ground? Well I can walk under it w/o ducking now. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770/60 "2010-05-28T10:43:19Z")
> [@Jimson\_Jim](#): > > They over graze - this will kill areas of your lawn. Yep. We have 15 acres, and this is why I don’t want livestock - they destroy your land. We have lots of mini-farms around here, and the land where horses, cows, and sheep graze turn into mud pits. The land is not usable for normal human stuff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sheep-as-lawn-mowers-whats-the-down-side/540770.md?page=4)