Where did the sheep come from? Biological special
Sheep have been domesticated since ancient times. Based on archaeological and other research, it is supposedly established that sheep were domesticated more than 6-8 thousand years BC. It is quite possible that the beginning of their domestication goes back to more ancient times.
It is recognized that the sheep was the first domesticated animal to be domesticated by man. The probable centers of domestication are Southern Siberia, Central and possibly Asia Minor. No traces of domestication have been found on other continents.
Sheep belong to the class of mammals, the subclass of reapers, the order of artiodactyls and the genus of sheep. The closest one to them zoological classification genus - kbzy.
There is no consensus on the possible ancestors of the latter. This is due to the significant number of varieties of wild sheep that are biologically close to domestic sheep. The most likely ancestors of domestic sheep include mouflon, argali and argali. Mouflons live on the coast and islands Mediterranean Sea and in Asia Minor (Fig. 1). Since no centers of sheep domestication have been found in Europe, the Mediterranean mouflon is not considered the ancestor of domestic sheep. In addition, they differ from domestic sheep in some morphological characteristics.
1 – Wild sheep mouflon
Argali live in steppe and mountainous areas Central Asia, Afghanistan. To the east of their range, up to the Himalayas and the Khingan Range, including Southern Transbaikalia, similar argali live. They are the largest among the wild sheep of the Asian continent. In male argali, the height at the withers reaches 120 cm and the live weight sometimes exceeds 180 kg. All named wild sheep produce fertile offspring when mated with domestic sheep, which is the most important indicator their biological relationship. At the same time, modern genetic research It has been established that all breeds of domestic sheep in Asia, Europe and other continents have the same set of chromosomes (2n=54). Consequently, the sheep karyotype turned out to be one of the most stable biological characteristics, not subject to changes during domestication. Mouflon also has the same set of chromosomes as domestic sheep. Argali and argali have 56 chromosomes in the karyotype. Another wild related species, the urial, which lives in the mountains of Tibet, has a karyotype of 58 chromosomes.
From wild sheep large horns and a short tail, the color of the coat is red, brown, brown or white, depending on the area.
It can be assumed that domestic sheep are descended from one of the varieties of Asian mouflon and, therefore, have a single focus of domestication (monophyletic origin).
However, this does not exclude the possibility of the origin of other varieties of domestic sheep from argali or argali. Then, as a result of crossing these varieties, an ancient domestic sheep, which inherited the mouflon karyotype and some external forms(horns) from argali or argali. In this case, we can talk about the polyphyletic origin of domestic sheep.
In the process of domestication and long-term artificial selection over thousands of years, sheep have undergone significant morphophysiological changes. If in terms of weight domestic sheep are not much inferior to their wild relatives, then in terms of physique (habitus) they differ sharply from them. Wild sheep are characterized by slender and long legs, deep chest, toned belly. Domestic sheep acquired a rounded body and short legs. They had a decrease in the relative mass of the brain and the most important internal organs. Vision, hearing and smell have deteriorated.
Under the influence of conscious selection, the greatest changes occurred in the fleece of the sheep. wild sheep mainly consists of thick guard fibers, which actually turn into dead fibers, and thin fluff, or undercoat. The annual weight of such wool reaches 1 kg. The transition of the two-fraction wool of wild sheep into the coarse mixed fleece of domestic sheep, consisting of 3-4 types of wool fibers, was due to the need to use sheep wool in spinning and fabric production. The transformation of the coat is the result of the selection of sheep bred in new conditions, consisting of improved feeding and maintenance. Already in ancient times, sheep were created whose fleece consists of homogeneous types of thin fibers, mainly fluff. A modern fine-fleece ram has an annual wool yield of more than 30 kg, which indicates sharp increase sheep productivity achieved during the domestication process.
Igor Nikolaev
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Sheep have been used as pets by humans since ancient times.
No other animal brings so many benefits, because representatives of the sheep tribe are not only a source of food (meat and milk, from which various cheeses and fermented milk products are made), but also provide valuable wool different varieties, from which clothing and felt are made, as well as skins, which are used not only for protection from the cold, but also for covering nomadic dwellings.
Domestic sheep belong to the order of artiodactyls, which, in turn, along with goats, are called small cattle. To be completely precise, the females of this species of animal are called sheep. Males are called rams, and baby sheep are called lambs.
This is the oldest species domesticated by humans. It was tamed about eight to twelve thousand years ago, that is, back in the Neolithic era. This is evidenced by numerous archaeological finds, as well as ancient rock paintings found by scientists during excavations in different regions Europe and Asia. It was from these parts of the world that the active promotion of these valuable animals to other continents began.
Anatomically, goats are closest to them, which is why they were combined into one type of livestock.
Who is the ancestor of modern domestic sheep?
There are several different theories about this. Scientists to this day have not come to a consensus, since there are quite a few that are similar to domestic species in a number of ways.
Experts are not yet ready to say that one of them is the ancestor of the domestic sheep, but among their ancestors the following wild animals are most often heard: mouflons, argali and argali sheep. Let's look at these three types in more detail.
Wild mouflon
This animal is possible ancestor domestic sheep. The most large population mouflons are based in Asia and the coastal regions of the Mediterranean. Since no traces of this animal were found in Europe, not all scientists agree that it could be the ancestor of domestic sheep varieties. In addition, there are a number of significant differences between this wild type of sheep and representatives of domestic sheep breeds.
Argali
Some experts put this wild species in place of the desired ancestor. Argali mostly are found in the Central Asian foothills, which, as in the first case, raises doubts about their primogeniture.
Argali
The third probable ancestor of the domestic sheep familiar to us since ancient times is called the Argali ram, which lives in Transbaikalia and the foothills of the Himalayas. Of all related species This wild animal is recognized as the largest among its counterparts of other breed types. Their height at the withers reaches one meter and twenty centimeters, and the live weight of this wild sheep exceeds one hundred and seventy kilograms.
It should be said that when all three listed wild variants were crossed with sheep of domestic breeds, the latter gave healthy offspring.
It was this fact that gave scientists reason to assume that these three may be the ancestors of domestic varieties of the sheep tribe.
In addition, additional scientific research genetic characteristics of the listed animals, the absolute identity of the chromosome set in them and in ordinary sheep was established.
In addition, one cannot help but mention another wild species, very similar to domestic animals of this species.
These are wild sheep - urials, common in Tibet. These wild animals big horns and a small short tail. The color is mostly brown or red, although there are many individuals of white and brown colors.
Currently, experts are divided into two camps on this issue.
Some scientists are inclined to a monophyletic theory of the origin of domestic species of the sheep tribe, while others insist on their polyphyletic origin.
The essence of the disagreement is clear from the name of the theories.
The first asserts the origin of all animals from one common ancestor, which is called the wild mouflon. The second casts doubt on this fact and is inclined to believe that these domesticated animals had several ancestors (argali and argali sheep).
It is worth saying that domestic species of sheep, although they have weight characteristics similar to wild representatives, however, at the same time, their body structure and constitution are very different from them.
All wild sheep are distinguished by their slender build and long limbs, while their domestic “relatives” are short-legged and have a barrel-shaped body.
It is believed that these differences arose as a result of evolution during big difference in the habitat, as well as due to constant selection work carried out by humans.
This also explains the much worse vision, hearing and smell of domestic widows (compared to wild representatives).
The coat has also changed significantly.
The fleece of wild sheep mainly consists of soft fluff on the skin itself and thick wool fibers, turning into almost lifeless hair. And the weight of the entire fur of savages barely reaches one kilogram.
Domestic relatives can boast as many as four types of wool fibers, which appeared in the process of long breeding selection, a special nutritious diet and in special conditions of detention.
Thus, we can say that experts cannot yet accurately name any one ancestor of the domestic sheep. Therefore, choose for yourself which one you like best: mouflon, argali or argali.
Origin. Domestic sheep belong to the class of mammals (Mammalia) subclass of placentals (Placentalia), order of artiodactyls (Artidactila), suborder ruminants (Ruminanta) bovid family (Cavicomia) kind of sheep (Ovis) type of domestic sheep (Ovis aries). Sheep are descended from several wild ancestors(mouflon, arcara, argali and maned ram), which have survived to this day. Some of these forms have been successfully used for hybridization with domestic sheep.
Mouflon (Fig. 4.1) is a small, very active wild animal that currently lives in Transcaucasia, Kazakhstan and Central Asia. In captivity, mouflons reproduce and produce offspring when crossed with domestic sheep. It is believed that mouflons are the ancestors of northern short-tailed sheep.
Arkar, or steppe mouflon (Fig. 4.2), which is often also called arcal, is larger than mouflon. The weight of these sheep reaches 200 kg or more. In terms of wool quality, they differ little from mouflons.
Argali are the largest wild sheep, their live weight is about 240 kg. At the rams huge horns spiral shape (weighing up to 16-18 kg). With domestic sheep, argali produce fertile offspring.
Biological features. The most important biological features sheep - greater plasticity and adaptability to different climatic and economic conditions, versatile productivity, a relatively short maturation period (5 months), fairly high early maturity and the ability to use roughage and pasture feed more fully than other types of farm animals. However, it should be noted that the fine-fleeced sheep of the lowland regions are not adapted to grazing in the mountains, and cannot distinguish beneficial from harmful vegetation under these conditions, as a result of which they often suffer from feed poisoning. Animals of the Romanov breed, brought to the Caucasus, quickly become ill with piroplasmosis, and from Karakul sheep in conditions humid climate they get smushki of extremely low quality. Early maturing meat and wool semi-fine wool sheep are characterized by higher productivity in temperate and humid climates.
Sheep are able to fatten on pastures where cattle usually starve. The ability to selectively use feed allows sheep to choose the most suitable food on pasture. nutritious plants and their parts (fruits, leaves). This is facilitated by the peculiar structure of the front part of the sheep's head: narrow muzzle, very mobile thin lips and sharp oval curved incisors. Sheep eat about 570 species of plants, cattle only 50. Good use Sheep also benefit from their strong legs, strong hooves and joints. In search of food, they can move long distances (up to 15-18 km) every day.
Sheep have a four-chambered stomach and well-developed intestines. Total capacity digestive tract is about 44 liters, of which the stomach - 30, small intestines - 9 and large intestines - 5 liters. Length small intestine equal to 26 m, thick - 5 m. The suction surface is 2.8 m2. When recalculated per 1 kg of live weight, these figures are significantly higher than for large cattle. In addition, the ability of some sheep breeds to lay large number fat in the fat tail and tail allows them to endure harsh natural conditions It is relatively easy to endure seasonal disruptions in pasture feed and water.
Sheep are ruminant animals with a well-developed digestive apparatus. The most valuable food for them is green grass, organic matter which is digested in the body of sheep by 75-85%. Therefore, the production of lamb on pasture is much cheaper than on other feeds. For this purpose, as well as to improve the safety of lambs, in a number of southern regions of the country, lambing of sheep is timed to coincide with the beginning of grass growth.
Sheep are diurnal animals and have good eyesight, hearing and smell. However, visual acuity only appears in good lighting.
Dry air low temperature and solar radiation help improve appetite in sheep. When kept and fed outdoors, their productivity increases, including cutting wool by almost 20%, and its strength increases. At the same time, sheep do not tolerate being kept in damp areas and swampy pastures well. Under such conditions, they often lose weight, reduce productivity, develop various diseases and often die. In addition, animals are adversely affected by sudden changes in temperature. In the first 10 days after shearing, sheep catch cold easily; heat stress in the summer inhibits estrus in queens, high temperature and straight sunlight negatively affect the sperm production of rams.
In terms of fertility, the first place is occupied by Romanov breed sheep, from which they produce 250-260 lambs per 100 queens per year. In the Rybinsk district of the Yaroslavl region, one ewe of this breed was kept on a farm for 20 years, during which she lambed 19 times, of which 8 lambings were 3 lambs, 8 were 4, 2 were 5, and 1 lamb was 6 lambs. In just 19 lambings, this ewe produced 72 lambs.
Sheep are fairly early maturing animals. With intensive rearing, young animals can be used for meat at 6-8 months of age.
Sheep are almost not affected by tuberculosis, but quite often they become ill with brucellosis and scabies, smallpox, foot rot, mastitis, and helminthiases.
The lifespan of sheep is 14-15 years, but on average they are used up to 7-8, and the most valuable - up to 9-10 years. By this time, the sheep are losing their teeth, and the use of animals becomes economically unprofitable.
The main clinical indicators in sheep are as follows: body temperature 35.8-40 °C; pulse rate 70-80 beats per minute; 16-30 respiratory movements per minute; the number of red blood cells in the blood is 7.6-11.2 million, leukocytes - 8.2 thousand in 1mm3 of blood, hemoglobin - 90 g/l.
Domestic sheep belong to the class of mammals (Mammalia) order of artiodactyls (Artiodactyla), suborder ruminants (Ruminantia), bovid family ( Cavicornia), subfamily goat sheep (Caprovinea), which, in addition to sheep, also includes goats, a kind of ram (Ovis Linnaeus, 1758), apparently domestic sheep (Ovis aries). The genus sheep includes 2 subgenera - Ovis And Pachyceros(Fig. 1).
CLASSIFICATION OF THE GENUS RAMS
Rice. 1. Ram classification
Wild relatives and ancestors of domestic sheep.
Some animals of the bovid family can be conditionally attributed to relatives of domestic sheep or to their ancestors. Relatives are closest to domestic sheep according to zoological classification, appearance, lifestyle and in some cases, when crossed with them, they produce offspring. Ancestors are usually called wild relatives from which domestic sheep originated.
Currently, the most likely ancestor of domestic sheep includes the mouflon, the probable ancestors include the arkara and argali, and the relatives include the bighorn sheep, the bighorn sheep, the Dall sheep, the maned sheep and the blue sheep.
Mouflon (Ovis gmelini or Ovis orientalis)(Fig. 2a) is a ruminant artiodactyl animal of the sheep genus.
European wild mouflons, except Corsica and Sardinia, live in southern regions Europe. The Asian mouflon is distributed from Transcaucasia and southern parts Turkmenistan and Tajikistan to the Mediterranean Sea and northwestern India.
Rice. 2.
European mouflon - the only wild sheep in Europe - lives in the mountains of Corsica and Sardinia. The coat is rather short, smooth-lying, elongated on the chest, the upper side is reddish-brown in summer with a darker back, chestnut-brown in winter, the underside is white.
The length of the body is up to 125 cm, of which 10 cm is the length of the tail, the height at the withers is 70 cm. Males have highly developed thick triangular horns in cross section up to 65 cm long, with 30-40 folds. The live weight of rams is 40-50 kg. Females are lighter in color, smaller in size and usually lack horns, which are found only in exceptional cases.
The height at the withers of the Asian mouflon is 84-92 cm, body length can reach 150 cm. The weight of rams is 53-79 kg, females - 36-46 kg. The horns are large, spirally twisted, triangular, forming no more than one whorl. The horns are curved, first outward and upward, and then downward, the ends slightly turned inward. The horns of females are small, flattened, slightly curved, and often absent.
The summer color of Asian mouflons is reddish-brown or yellowish-red, and the fur is short. In winter, the color is brownish, with poorly developed red and white tones. Belly and inner side legs are lighter, with a yellowish or white color. There is a dark stripe (“belt”) on the ridge, more pronounced in adult animals. Along the underside of the neck there is usually a mane of black-brown and white hair. Young lambs are covered with soft brownish-gray fur.
Urial (arkar, arcal) (Ovis vignei Bluth, 1841) (Fig. 26) lives in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and India (Kashmir region).
The general color is brown, with more light shade. There is a white spot on the croup, below the base of the tail and on the hind legs. Males have a black fore-neck and chest. Rams have massive horns, females have much smaller ones. The largest recorded dimensions of the horns are 99 cm, and the largest circumference at the base is 31 cm. The body length of the rams is 110-145 cm, the height at the withers is 88-100 cm.
There are 5 subspecies of urials in the world:
- 1) Ovis vignei arkal. Number as of 1990 - 6000 goals;
- 2) Ovis vignei bocharensis. By the end of the 80s. XX century the population of this subspecies numbered 1000 animals;
- 3) Ovis vignei cycloceros. In the late 80s - early 90s. XX century the number of the subspecies was 10,500-11,000 individuals;
- 4) Ovis vignei punjabiensis. Data from 1992 indicate a population of 1,550 individuals;
- 5) Ovis vignei vignei. Lives in India total number- 1000-1500 individuals.
Argali (argali)(Fig. Za) lives in mountainous areas Central Asia, including in the south of Siberia. Listed in the Red Book Russian Federation. This is the most major representative wild sheep - its length is 120-200 cm, height at the withers - 90-120 cm, live weight - 65-180 kg. Depending on the size and color of the body, several subspecies are distinguished, the largest of which is considered the Pamir argali, or Marco Polo mountain sheep (Ovis attop posh), named after the great traveler who was the first European to describe it.
Both males and females have long (up to 190 cm) horns, but in males they look much larger and more impressive and can make up up to 13% of body weight. The body color of different subspecies varies from light sand to dark gray-brown, bottom part the body usually looks noticeably lighter. On the sides along the entire body there are dark brown stripes, clearly separating the darker top and lighter bottom. Males are distinguished by the fact that they have a ring of light hair around the neck, as well as elongated hair on the nape. The winter color is noticeably lighter and longer than the summer color.
Argali live in the mountainous and foothill regions of Central Asia at an altitude of 1300-6100 m above sea level - in the Pamirs, Altai, Sayan Mountains, Himalayas, Mongolia and Tibet.
bighorn sheep (Ovis nivicola ) (Fig. 36) common in Eastern Siberia. Found in the mountains of Kamchatka, the Koryak Highlands, Chukotka, and the Verkhoyansk Mountains mountain system, in the area of the Stanovoy Range, on the Stanovoy Highlands and the north of the Yablonovy Range.
Rice. 3. Argali (A)and bighorn sheep (b)
The animal is medium in size and densely built. The head is small, with ears up to 11 cm long, the neck is short and thick. The limbs are also quite short and thick. In adult rams, the body length is 140-188 cm, the height at the withers is 76-112 cm, and the weight is 56-150 kg. Females are smaller, their body length is 126-179 cm, height at the withers - 76-100 cm, live weight - 33-68 kg.
Bighorn (Ovis canadensis)(Fig. 4a) distributed in the mountains of the western part North America from Canada to the California Peninsula.
Rice. 4.
Body size varies among populations, but everywhere males average significantly larger than females. IN Rocky Mountains The body weight of adult males reaches 73-143 kg, while the body weight of females is only 53-91 kg. In the deserts of the southern part of their range, bighorn sheep are smaller: body weight reaches 58-86 kg for males and 34-52 kg for females. The ears are relatively small. Males have heavy and massive horns that curve outward in a more or less gentle spiral. Their length is about 1 cm. The mass of the horns is especially large males can reach 14 kg - approximately the same as all the other bones of the body weigh in total. The horns of females are always well developed, but weaker than those of males. The color is variable, generally uniform yellowish-brown or brownish-brown, sometimes black-brown, almost black or gray-white.
The belly is light, the end of the muzzle and back surface thighs (“mirror”) are white. The hair is thick and long, there is no mane on the neck and chest.
On the list International Union Nature Protection Agency classified the bighorn sheep as a species under least threat. In the USA, in places where bighorn sheep are most numerous, sport hunting for them is permitted under licenses.
In honor of the bighorns Bighorn sheep) named several place names in the United States, in particular a county in Montana, a county in Wyoming, a river in Wyoming and Montana.
Dalla ram, or thin-horned ram (Ovis Dalli)(Fig. 46). The specific name is given in honor of the American naturalist William 14
ma Healy Dalla (1845-1927). Often considered a subspecies of the bighorn sheep. The average live weight of rams is 113 kg, females - 43 kg, body length - 170 cm, height at withers - 90 cm. The horns are large, curved in a spiral. The distribution area extends from southern Alaska to British Columbia. There are two subspecies of thin-horned sheep:
- Ovis dalli dalli, whose fur is entirely white. Found throughout most of Alaska and Yukon Territory, as well as far northwestern British Columbia.
- Ovis dalli stonei, gray with white spots near the tail. Inhabits southern Yukon Territory and northern British Columbia.
Maned ram (Ammotragus lervia)(Fig. 5a) very interesting and quite close relative sheep It is distributed in inaccessible areas of North Africa west of the Nile, where it is actively hunted by Bedouins, so its numbers are rapidly declining. Forms six subspecies. It occupies an intermediate position between goats and rams, but in a number of characteristics it is closer to the former. The tail is bare below and has glands; there are no preorbital or interclaw glands.
Rice. 5.
The horns are similar to the horns of Caucasian aurochs, triangular in cross section. Their length in males reaches 80 cm, in females - 40 cm. There is no beard. In males, a mane of wood grows on the neck and chest almost to the ground. long hair. The body color is uniform, grayish-sandy, the mane is lighter. The head is elongated, the eyes are large, the ears are small. The nostrils are set obliquely and are surrounded by a narrow bare stripe descending to upper lip. The animals are quite large: body length - 130-165 cm, height at the withers - 75-100 cm, weight - 100-140 kg for males and 40-55 kg for females.
Capable of crossing with domestic goats and at the same time, apparently, is the ancestor of a number of specific African sheep breeds. Does not interbreed with domestic sheep of Europe and Asia.
In 1950, maned sheep were acclimatized in the mountains of New Mexico and California (USA).
Blue Ram (Pseudois pauaigus), or kuku-yaman (Fig. 56), does not belong to real rams, as evidenced by the name of the genus to which it belongs - “false rams”. Distributed in the Himalayas, Tibet and adjacent mountain ranges. Lives on plateaus and open slopes at an altitude of 3.0-5.5 thousand m above sea level. Avoids forests and bushes and only in winter descends to the upper border of the forest.
Forms 3 subspecies. Animals of one, smallest subspecies (R.p. schaeferi), described in 1963, were discovered in the rocks of the forest belt of the mountains, where they were kept in small groups. Blue sheep of other subspecies live in large mixed herds of several tens and hundreds of heads.
In winter upper limit forests they form clusters of thousands of heads, which all graze daylight hours days. IN summer time adult males usually stay separate groups. They feed on grass and lichens.
The blue ram resembles a goat in appearance. It received the name “blue” for the gray-blue tint of its fur, which is especially pronounced in animals in the first winter of life. Adult animals are gray-brown with light underparts and black stripes on the front surface of the legs.
Thick horns, covered with narrow transverse ridges, are closely shifted at the base (which is typical of goats) and diverge to the sides, the ends are curved to the side and back. The length of the horns in males reaches 80 cm, in females - 20 cm.
The tail on the lower surface is bare only at the base, where poorly developed glands are located. The size of the animals is average: body length - 115-165 cm, height at the withers - 75-90 cm, weight - 25-80 kg.
Sheep are a domesticated form of the wild mountain sheep. Their ancestor is the only kind- mouflon, other types of mountain sheep have never been domesticated. IN in a broad sense the word sheep is used to designate domesticated rams in general, in a narrow sense it is used only to designate females. Accordingly, domestic males are called rams in the same way as their wild ancestors.
These domesticated sheep, grazing in the Scottish highlands, are very similar to their wild ancestors.
The domestication of sheep occurred a little later than the domestication of goats. This happened about 6-7 thousand years ago. The centers of domestication became Asia Minor, the Caucasus and Iran. Initially, sheep were domesticated and bred in the mountains and foothills, but they turned out to be very plastic (changeable) and quickly mastered new climatic conditions. These animals tolerated drought especially well, so they soon spread across the deserts and steppes of Asia. Together with goats, they became very popular in the Mediterranean, where they were the most popular type of livestock. From here the sheep got into Western Europe and again gained universal popularity here. In the Middle Ages, sheep were bred so much that this was reflected not only in the economies of countries, but also in their culture. England became the recognized center of selection; together with the English colonists, sheep were brought to the USA, countries South America, Australia and New Zealand. Everywhere they are found large quantities, but the latter two countries have become the new world center of sheep farming. Australia now has the world's largest population of these animals.
A herd of merino sheep on pasture.
What caused such a widespread human love for these animals? Firstly, unpretentiousness. As mountain dwellers, sheep are accustomed to eating meager food and are completely undemanding when it comes to feed. They eat over 500 types of herbs, and in addition they can eat leaves, branches of bushes, thorny and bitter plants. They need relatively little water to digest food, but they use it very efficiently. The special structure of the teeth and jaws allows sheep to cut the stems right down to the root, so they literally gnaw pastures to the ground. Sheep graze with pleasure and benefit in areas grazed by cows and horses. But after them, other animals have nothing to do in the pasture. Secondly, sheep are very healthy and hardy animals. Physiological illnesses are rare among them, and they tolerate long transitions well. Sheep don't require special attention, easy to control, non-aggressive, compact. In addition, they are not afraid of cold weather. In most cases, special premises are not even needed for their maintenance: in warm countries, sheep are kept on pastures around the clock and all year round; in countries with moderately cold winters, a shed or an uninsulated barn is enough for them. However, there are areas in the world where there are very few sheep. It's wet tropical areas. Fear of dampness is perhaps the only drawback that limits their spread.
In winter, sheep forage for food from under the snow. Their dense coat not only protects them from blizzards, but in some cases can even be waterproof against rain.
The behavior of these animals is very specific. Sheep are considered stupid, timid and stubborn, and this is a rare case where prejudice is largely justified. Indeed, compared to other domestic animals, sheep are slow-witted, incurious, psychological level non-contact. An attempt to achieve mutual understanding from them is doomed to failure. While grazing, they are not interested in what is happening around them, paying attention only to the behavior of their comrades. If dogs, cats, horses adjust their behavior to specific conditions and human requirements, then sheep invariably use several simple reflexes, which are worth changing great work. They adapt to a new environment slowly, and it takes them a long time to change their habits. No wonder they say, “looks like a ram at a new gate.” Interestingly, the brains of domestic sheep are smaller than those of their wild ancestors, and even mountain sheep natural environment behave much more actively. The inability of sheep to quickly adapt to new environment people perceive it as stubbornness.
Lambs suck milk on their knees.
However, the stupidity of sheep is exaggerated and misinterpreted. The fact is that they have a highly developed herd instinct, much stronger than their wild ancestors. Moreover, the psychological comfort of sheep is directly proportional to the size of their group. If most animals, even herd animals, do not tolerate overcrowding, then sheep in large groups feel excellent, in small groups - good, and alone - bad. To some extent, other animals can replace their brothers (there is a known case when a lonely sheep made friends with ducklings), but if the animal is completely isolated, it will be under extreme stress. In this regard, the sheep try their best to hold on closer friend to a friend. It is precisely this hypertrophied herding that is the cause of the notorious sheep stupidity. To understand how strongly the instinct of following fellow sheep replaces logic in sheep, it is enough to give the following example. When large herd The sheep are driven into a shed; the animals in front pass through the gate and run into the fence of the pen. Under pressure from those coming from behind, they turn around and walk along the fence; they continue this maneuver until all members of the group have entered the pen. At this moment, those who came first rest against the tail of the last ones and... seeing their brothers, they begin to follow them! Thus, the herd closes in a ring and begins a circular movement. Sheep follow each other without paying attention to where they are; experienced shepherds know that such walking can last for several hours until exhaustion. To stop it, the shepherds have to enter the fold and push the sheep so that they stop their orderly movement.
Sheep walk along the pasture, stretched out in a chain: each subsequent one is guided by the one who follows in front.
The cowardice of sheep is also well known. Unlike other domestic animals, they do not attempt self-defense and never even stand up for their offspring. In general, these animals are very sensitive to loud sounds, are afraid of the dark and limited space. But all these disadvantages of behavior are also their advantages. One shepherd can cope with a herd of thousands of sheep; he only needs to control the leading animal. In some cases, sheep can be safely left unattended. To do this, only one ram is tied, and the rest of the herd members remain next to it and do not leave, despite freedom of movement. Despite all the difficulties of training, sheep learn several commands, remember the shepherds and treat them with trust bordering on self-sacrifice. Therefore, since ancient times, the sheep has served as a symbol of meekness, complaisance, and good morals. It is the sheep, and not the more intelligent and mischievous goat, that is identified in the Bible with righteousness. The image of sheep flocks became a common cliche in poetry and painting of the Middle Ages. Troubadours and poets sang of the peaceful shepherd's life surrounded by sheep as an ideal of life harmony; this style of art is called pastoral.
Blackhead sheep on the moors of Scotland.