Guard Llamas or Guard Donkeys

[RichZ]

Thanks for the info, Steve. Our dogs aren't allowed anywhere near our livestock, unless they are on leashes. That's because our dogs are pretty big (mastiff, St. Bernard, and a black lab/Australian Shepherd mix) and all three love all animals and consider them playmates. Usually livestock misinterpet their intentions, and someone could easily get hurt. So in the interest of all critters safety, the dogs must be on a leash if they want to visit the livestock.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm wondering if donkeys just don't like the fast movements and general playfulness of goats. )</font>

Rich, when I got that little donkey, I had one stall in the barn that was probably 12' square that I put him in. It was open into a pen about the same size. I kept him there the first few days, where he could see the goats in the adjoining pen, even touch noses through the fence, before turning him out with the goats. However, they were all then in a pen that went around two sides of the barn; "L" shaped pen that was only about half an acre or so. Then he could see and hear the neighbor's 5 donkeys about a quarter mile away. So he paced back and forth along the fence on that side, wanting to join the other donkeys. So he was obviously pretty well stressed . . . and I obviously didn't know what I was doing. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I had bought him at a cattle auction so know nothing about his past. When he went berserk and attacked, the first goat he attacked, and broke her neck was the oldest, gentlest nanny of the bunch. He grabbed her by the neck and was slinging her back and forth over his shoulders. When we went running out there, he dropped that goat, and while I was chasing him, he grabbed one of the little goats, a kid that probably weighed 15 pounds, by one hind leg and was running from me carrying that kid. Surprisingly, when he dropped the kid, it had no injuries.

So I can at least partially understand the stress factor and why that donkey went berserk, but what I don't understand was why the jack the neighbor later bought would attack cows. He would single one out and chase her to exhaustion when the whole herd, over 100 head of cattle, plus the two donkeys, had over a hundred acres they could roam at will.

 

[bontai_Joe]

Well this has certainly been educational for me. I've worked with guard dogs, ans sheep dogs and herding dogs, but have never heard of guard Llamas or guard mules. Having also worked with donkeys and horses and mules, I'd vote mule for their strength, and their usefullness for other tasks (it's a lot easier to saddle and ride a mule than a llama).

 

[slowrev]

Lamas get useless as guards if you get too many, they start their own herd and forget the goats. But work well as long as you only have 2 or 3.
Ben

 

[stevenf]

joe I'll have to disagree. Yes the mule is rideable and are superior to horses in all ways, weight carrying, endurance, healtier just to name a few "but" they are larger, require more feed, and emotionally not as even tempered as a donkey with a donkey they still have great weight carrying abilities but they are also closer to the size of the animals being protected, easier to handle, more trusting and if they are worked with when they are young they are a darn site more friendly towards humans. Thats not to say that I don't have a preference to mules because I do but this is for guarding the herd not riding if you or the kids are out riding the guard animal who is guarding the herd. I own or have owned horses, mules, donkey's and mammoth jacks and the best of the bunch for a good stable herd guard is a donkey. Besides if you don't weigh 350lbs and you just have to ride something climb up on that donkey you'll have a ball they don't use them in the Grand Canyon for their looks they use them because of their strength, endurance and surefootedness. The kids loveem because they are cute and unless they are badly handled they are very playful and affectionate and you couldn't find a more loyal to the family/herd animal.
Steve

 

[stevenf]

I'd like to second slowrev on this you really should only start with one and let them get totally acclimated to the herd (a year or so) then add another if you want and do the same thing over and over if you want or need more depending on the size of your herd of goats/sheep never start with a group of guard animals to guard a herd or they will definitely form their own herd and completely ignore their intended purpose.
Steve

 

[bontai_Joe]

StevenF,
You make several valid points. And after reading your post, I'd have to agree with you, especially since I've never used these kinds of animals as guards. Being a practical guy, I was just thinking that a mule or two would be of more use than a llama as far as a multipurpose animal (I'm guilty of trying to get the most out of anything if I can). And you are 100% correct in that if I am riding the mule, then he ain't guarding anything /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[stevenf]

By the way Richz I was talking to some of my rancher buddies and they said get a Jenny they do a better job of guarding and for sure they are easier to train. Wish women worked that way. Uhoh I'm probably going to get policed for that little remark.
Steve

 

[RichZ]

Thanks, Steve. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[RSKY]

I have to relate what happened to a co-worker. He bought an adult jack and put it with his cattle. The jack was, to put it mildly, oversexed. As soon as it was put in the field it was chasing and mounting the cattle constantly. The fellow could not get the jack separated from the cows. So he let his bull in to the same field thinking it would take care of the 'guard' donkey. The jack was not intimidated. It ran after the bull and latched on to the bulls nose. Took the much larger bull a few minutes to get loose. Then the larger bull was also running from the jack. Probably for the same reason the cows were. Finally Phillip had to get his deer rifle and shoot the donkey. If it is not raised from an early age with the goats or whatever I would not use a donkey.