16 CIRCULAR 8 04, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



from insects during the day. Y\ Tien the sheep rested they apparently 

 felt well-fed and content to remain quiet and ruminate. This was 

 conducive to better weight gains and improved welfare, and was 

 considered as indicative of satisfactory management. 



FIGHTING INSECTS 



Range sheep that are herded have the well-known habit of congre- 

 gating on summer days, frequently near watering places. This 

 practice is commonly known as shading up. It is usually attributed 

 to hot weather and has become so entrenched in the daily routine that 

 herders sometimes appear to encourage the practice by keeping their 

 sheep congregated, often near water, for a considerable part of the 

 day even though natural conditions may not prompt the sheep to 

 congregate. Such concentration from midmorning until late afternoon 

 causes damage to the range. 



- 2 & 



■f*"/f 



v* jx*i,~ 



Figure 7. — Sheep congregated, or shaded up, under a high bank near a developed 



spring. 



In the experimental pastures the yearling ewes frequently congre- 

 gated during the day, but observations indicated that it was primarily 

 for protection from insects. They frequently grazed for short periods 

 during the hottest part of the day if insects were inactive, then con- 

 gregated at other times when temperatures were lower but insects 

 obviously more troublesome. Barren, dusty places or steep, browse- 

 covered slopes sometimes near water (fig. 7) were very often selected, 

 but actual shade was not a requirement. Little, if any, rest was 

 gained when the ewes congregated under these conditions because a 

 substantial part of a group was constantly in motion as individuals 

 lay down, got up, kicked, or moved about to dislodge annoying insects. 



Unnecessary congregating should not be encouraged by poor 

 herding or other questionable practices. There can be little doubt 



