An Introduction To Combatting Predation With Guardian Animals
By Denice Rackley
Kopf Canyon Ranch
In the dark of night, howls and yipps provide an unwelcome wake-up call like no other. Fear of predation rouses livestock producers immediately from a deep sleep.
While raising livestock comes with many challenges, predation is always near the top. Predation costs, both emotional and financial, can be considerable.
Predation has been a concern since the first herds were taken to graze. Many methods to reduce losses have been used over the centuries - shooting, trapping, poisoning, visual and chemical deterrents, and even birth control for predators has been tried. While all these methods produce some relief from predation, nothing has proven as effective as livestock guardian animals.
Guardian dogs, llamas, and donkeys are common means of defense for grazing animals around the world. Regardless of the animal used to guard livestock they need to selected and raised to provide the best chances of success.
What it takes to be a good guardian
Guardians need to be bonded with the specific species you raise, suited to the predators involved, and naturally adapted to your flock or herd management style. Without all these, the guardians will not be successful in eliminating losses to predators or at least reducing the number of animals lost to predators.
What does it take for a guardian to be good at their job? A good guardian chooses to stay with the stock, doesn’t harm them, alerts to danger, puts themselves in harm’s way, and deters predators. These skills are not trained, they come naturally.
Guardian behavior is genetic
Guardian behavior is genetic, an innate skill. The skill is passed down from generations of successful adults. Not only do the guardians need to be from individuals that have proven themselves, but they also need to be bonded with the livestock and raised in a way to help them mature into successful protectors.
Due to guardian being an instinctual behavior, not every guardian pup, llama, or donkey will have what it takes to make a good guardian, even when from proven parents. But I can assure you that if the parents have exhibited traits that were difficult to manage then the offspring will likely also be difficult.
Choosing a guardian
Placing a guardian animal amongst livestock has its challenges. Some individuals will harm livestock we place in their care. Why does this happen?
It happens in part because we don’t have high enough standards for the animals bred. We don’t spend enough time doing our research to select a guardian to fit our situation. We seem to accept that the people breeding guardians understand livestock and what is needed from guardians. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
Choosing prospective guardians, raising great guardians, and encouraging bonding sounds easy, but it isn’t.
1. Do your homework.
Research the different ways donkey, llama, and various livestock guardian dog breeds work. Each approaches threats differently - some confront predators, some move livestock away, some patrol to reduce the predators in the areas.
Consider the type and number of predators that are threatening your animals. How do they gain access? What kind of approach will work best to deter them? Wolves that hunt in packs are going to require a different approach than a couple of coyotes. Eagles will need yet a different strategy to avoid predation from the air.
Consider your location. Are guardian dogs going to be a liability because of neighbors nearby? Is a dog barking at night going to cause tensions? Is a grazing animal like a donkey or llama enough protection for your situation?
Don’t take one person’s view as gospel. Every person has a unique experience. Often producers will unintentionally pass on their opinion as fact. Instead, find several people with years of experience to visit with. Piece together the common facts along with research to make informed choices.
2. Choose guardians from a reputable breeder who is raising, and managing stock similar to your operation and the predation pressure is also similar.
Great Pyranees
Those guardians that protect a range flock from wolves and bears are most likely not ideal on 20 fenced acres with occasional coyotes passing through. Similarly, one llama might be fine on the outskirts of town, but a livestock guardian dog (LGD) who barks in the middle of the night or a donkey who brays might upset the neighbors. Many factors need to be considered before choosing which type of guardian might work for you.
3. Encourage bonding between guardian and stock.
Bonding is a learned behavior that takes place at a very young age. The most successful guardians are those raised with livestock species they will guard. Unfortunately, raising a good guardian is more than simply putting a pup, llama, or donkey in the same pasture as livestock. Supervision is necessary.
Raising good guardians
To encourage bonding and the forming of the strongest possible bond, the guardian and livestock will need to be able to touch, see, smell each other. These interactions can form an intense bond but come with inherent complications.
Each species grows up with certain behaviors that work well with others of their species, but not so well with other animals. You must interrupt and extinguish unwanted behavior exhibited by guardians while encouraging them to hang out with the stock.
Donkeys grow up kicking, biting, and chasing each other. Pups grow up chasing and chewing on siblings. When these play sessions get too rough, mom or another member of the group stops the rowdiness. When a donkey or pup grows up with other species, they only know how to be a pup or donkey. Their method of play or interaction may harm livestock requiring supervision to control and correct unwanted behavior while the guardian is young.
The instincts and even personality of animals is mainly genetic. It makes good sense to choose potential guardians from a long line of successful individuals making your job easier and increasing your guardian’s chance of success.
Some suggest getting 2 guardians and raising them together. That may work to provide a playmate but the chances of them bonding to each other are greater than the chance of them bonding to the stock. Two guardians make twice the work and require twice the feed. They might be more likely to patrol a larger area together which could encourage them to leave smaller acreages. Two guardians get old at the same time, becoming less effective and needing to be replaced. Having guardians spaced a few years apart enables you to have one working guardian while you are raising the next one.
I find most people would be more successful with only one young guardian at a time then adding another once the first is successful. However, if you live in an area with larger predators or groups of predators, one guardian may not provide enough protection.
Where to begin
Stepping back to thoughtfully assess your operation and needs along with your availability and skills in raising a guardian will help you figure out what type of guardian would suit you and your stock. Doing research, talking to many people, and obtaining referrals will help you choose a suitable guardian. Raising the guardian in a way that encourages bonding and enables consistent supervision should result in a guardian that can be trusted to take care of your stock and give you peace of mind that they are protected 24 hours a day.
