Abstract :
This study examined if Merino sheep trained to respond to a combined visual and auditory
stimulus could influence themovementof naïve Merino sheep flockswhenthe stimuluswas
activated. Trained Merino ewes were mixed with naive ewes and wethers in three groups of
different sizes. Group ratios were (trained:naïve) SmallMob(SM) 1:5 ratio (n = 18), Medium
Mob (MM) 1:10 (n = 33) and Large Mob (LM) 1:15 (n = 48). These groups were tested in 2
phases of increasing complexity. The first phase examined the responses of the different
sized flocks (SM, MM and LM) to leader-initiated movement in 3 visually open paddocks
(OP) during morning and afternoon grazing. The second phase examined the response of
two flocks (SM and LM) at similar times but in 3 visually complex paddocks (CP). Animal
groups were tested on 1 day per week in each paddock at pseudo random times. One
hundred percent of the SM, 73.5% of the MM and 70% of the LM approached within 6m of
the stimulus in the OP tests. In the CP 100% of the SM and 56.5% of the LM approached the
stimulus. The LM’s proximity to the stimulus in some of the CP tests was more than 6m,
however, it was not significant compared to the other CP or OP tests. Sixty seven percent
of the SM animals and 33% of the LM of naïve sheep were observed to initiate movement
toward the stimulus after the 6 tests in phase one. At the end of the first phase of testing the
proportion of naïve sheep observed to be eating the previously unknown grain (lupins) was
SM 73%,MM60% and LM 36%, suggesting that naïve sheep will learn to eat a novel grain by
following trained animals. Sub-grouping of the flock in this study was not a hindrance to
flock movement. This study demonstrated that sheep trained to respond to a stimulus do
provide leadership when mixed with naive sheep flocks causing a flock to rapidly change
position to congregate around an activated stimulus. These findings suggest that trained
animals could be used to manipulate animal movement for farm management purposes
