One of the latest publications in the field of postmodern range sciences – from the USDA-ARS, Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces, New Mexico – has been scheduled for future publication in the journal ‘Laterality’. Authors Dean M. Anderson and Leigh W. Murray (at K-State) set up a suite of experiments with 309 white-faced ewes, in […]
Tag: sheep
The wisdom of flerds [JER video]
As part of their ongoing commitment to postmodern range sciences, the USDA-ARS, Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces, New Mexico, has prepared a video profiling the concept of a flerd. (defined thus:) “A group of livestock containing two or more species which stay together under free-ranging conditions is defined as a flerd”
The scientists who synchronize cows
A British-American team of scientists [co-author Mason Porter is pictured here] has produced a study called A Mathematical Model for the Dynamics and Synchronisation of Cows. They were driven partly by the intellectual challenge, and at least a little by an EU council directive, which mandates “that cattle housed in groups should be given sufficient space so […]
Slovakian Shepherds, and Hunters & Butchers
When you hobnob with Slovakian shepherds, don’t mention wolves. A new study called Mitigating Carnivore-Livestock Conflict in Europe: Lessons from Slovakia, says: “Compared to other sectors of society shepherds had the most negative attitudes, particularly towards wolves.” Wolves are again roaming the forests of Slovakia. They were almost wiped out in the mid-20th century, then reappeared […]
Where and Why Sheep Split Up
To know why certain sheep cling to each other while others split off on their own, a person would need to know the size of the group, and also something about the personalities of the individual sheep. Scientists at the Macaulay Institute in Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, sought this very knowledge when they looked at the loiterings […]
Sheep and aardvarks, together at last
This study is one of the few that explicitly mentions both sheep and aardvarks in its title: “Counting Sheep is a Good Way to get to Sleep, but The Occasional Aardvark Will Wake You Up: How a Salient Event Improves Performance,” Veksler, B. Z., Gray, W. D., Proceedings of the 30th Annual Meeting of the […]
Abnormal psych experiment: Ad
This three-minute video, which focuses on sheep and politicians, is a good tool for classroom discussions and experiments in the field of abnormal psychology. [NOTE: Students should be informed that the video was designed and is being used for a different sort of experiment — a campaign advertisement in which one one candidate is attacking […]