Livestock Guardians: Using Dogs Donkeys and Llamas to Protect Your Herd by Janet Vorwald Dohner
	List Price:   $34.95 Unit Price:   $27.96 You Save:   $6.99 (20%) ISBN-10:   1580176968 ISBN-13:   9781580176965 Publisher:   Storey Publishing, LLC Category:   Agriculture Pub. Date:   November 2007 Pages:   229 Format:   Trade Cloth
Subjects
LIVESTOCK WORKING ANIMALS
Description/Notes
The number of Hobby Farmers in the United States is steadily rising. At the same time, predators are increasing in number and range. These predators pose a serious threat to both farm animals and the financial well-being of the farmers who raise them. fortunately, there's a solution that is low-cost, nonviolent, and highly effective: livestock guardian animals.'Livestock Guardians' by Jan Dohner, is a comprehensive guide for farmers struggling to reduce predation of sheep, goats, and other livestock. Dohner, who has more than 26 years of exprience with guardian animals, helps owners understand the keys to effective livestock protection: careful selection of the right guardian animal, proper guardian-livestock bonding, dedicated training, and ongoing problem-solving.Three chapters address the use of guardian dogs; collectively, these chapters explain how to evaluate, train, understand, and socialize these hardworking canines. A separate chapter provides detailed information on many guardian breeds from around the world. Additional chapters on livestock guardian donkeys and llamas help readers select and train these animals, as well. The thorough coverge of livestock guardians includes health care information; breed profiles; case studies of real farmers effectively using guard animals; an appendix with resources, organization, and Web sites; and a 16-page colour photographic insert of guardian breeds.Using Dohner's comprehensive, practical advice, farmers will be able to reduce predation, decrease the need for corralling, become aware of disturbances in flocks, better portect their family and property, and use pastures more efficiently. There are numerous predators that threaten farm animals and the financial welfare of the ranchers raising them. Even in the 21st century, the use of guard animals to protect a herd or flock can be a highly succesful, nonviolent and economical approach to an ancient problem. Aimed at both small backyard farmers and those with more extensive acreage and open range, here is comprehensive and practical advice on choosing, training, and working with a livestock guardian animal.