Watching a mob of sheep move through a well-designed set of yards is a beautiful sight. Being part of the flow, contributing to the draw and escape of the mob by applying and releasing pressure – whether by lifting your hat or leaning towards a passing mob – is truly a thing of beauty. Stock people are just that: people who love livestock.
We belong to a group of humans who find joy in the simple act of working with animals to help clothe and feed the world. Our genetic makeup, combined with the environmental influences we’ve experienced throughout our lives, prepares us to be part of this very special club. But it’s more than just growing up on a farm.
It’s far more complex than we often realise – or than non-believers give farmers credit for.
The need to work stock in a way that minimises stress and negative outcomes isn’t just an ideal; it’s a practice embodied in every movement, every signal to the dog, and every decision made in the yards or paddock. The ability to instinctively know where to stand, where to move next, and where the sheep truly want to go is akin to the instincts of the animals themselves.
So, why are sheep yards sexy? Many won’t see it, but those who understand will agree. The appeal lies in the design. Curves are good, just like us, but not essential to the admirer. Sheep love running around corners, but it’s not necessary for those corners to be curved to create the draw.
The perceived size of a yard to sheep isn’t just about its physical dimensions; it’s influenced by factors such as orientation, materials, sheep type, and mob size. Get down to the level of the sheep, and you’ll appreciate this perspective. Well-designed yards consider the changing seasons and the effects of shadows, contrast, and natural sheep draw.
“So that is the sexy part, natural draw. The sheep are doing what comes naturally.”
The Fibonacci sequence, a recurring theme in nature—found in the patterns of a pineapple, a snail shell, and the unfurling of a fern – also plays a role in the design of a sheep yard bugle. A well-designed bugle or serpentine enhances the innate, unwavering instinct that drives stock as they walk, trot, or run through the draft or into processing equipment.
Can this be replicated in a straight draft? Bloody oath, some of the best yards I’ve ever worked in were built long ago. The difference was that pressure was applied to create a curve— whether by people, a dog, a 44-gallon drum, or simply the timber rails that blocked the view and enhanced the escape.
So, next time you’re in the yards, take a moment to move differently, stand in a different spot, and observe the change in stock flow. You may just find your yards are a little better looking than before.
