Why do sheep need so much help?

[SleepingStandingUp]

Farmers always have to be there to look after them, seemingly more so for other animals (based on watching Down on the Farm) but why? Is it how they've been bred? Do they all need the same help really but it isn't talked about? Have cows and pigs got better PR? What would the death rate be like if all the sheep were left to give birth alone?

I'm not Ewe shaming, we should all be entitled to a little help.

Ha - haven’t HERD that one before

Wish FIL had known that when he totalled the car because two of the buggers decided to wake up and leap at where he was driving to rather than get up and walk away. He'd decided to drive slowly round them because they wouldn't move, but they waited until just as he was on the edge of an obscured by vegetation ditch to leap into his path; he steered left, then the car just kept going sideways.

Of course, when he told this story, we just thought 'Oh, right, didn't see any Hairy Hands as you tipped yourself into that ditch, did you?'. But DP confirmed the tale.

Shaun isnt thick though

My dad has sheep. Has had them all my life. They are not too needy outside lambing season, but when they are lambing he is sometimes there early hours of the morning with his arm inside one of them past his elbow 🤣. Doesn’t help that sheep are really stupid as well 😁

One of this years female lambs that was bottle fed is the cuddliest sheep I've ever met. She baas and runs to see me whenever I go and see them. She was like that from birth though. Every time I have a pet sheep they die so I don't like her chances. I do really love them though.

Ah, one of my favourite threads has popped up.

Yeah it was my fault sorry. It came up, I read it and commented, and then saw the date on it 🤣

@derxa - how was the Royal Highland Show this year?

We got two thirds. The judge didn't like our sheep's fleece otherwise we would have won both classes 🙄Heaven forfend that our wee flock could win the championship (not bitter at all 😆)

Sheep are so independent lol. They can and do literally live alone on the mountains , totally self sufficient. Even in winter. Cows can't really survive winter properly - sheep, no problem.
interfering in birth is same with humans really, creates jobs and needs for others etc. They'd be fine left alone .