Do you know how difficult it is to round up fifty some frolicking lambs for weights, DNA tests, if needed, and CDT immunizations? We could make a fortune selling tickets as our job turns into a comedy show. Hours of work can be cut back if improved communication takes place. We all can,t be the boss. Yee haw! Round ’em up foolish shepherds! The Katahdin round up is about to begin.
At The Outset
Picture this. Twenty five Katahdin ewes with their offspring hanging out in one of their six acre pastures. The ewes stoically eat the newly sprouting grass. Their little rascals race from fence to fence, then around the feed bins and back to the trees. That’s a typical scene on the farm. Harmonious. Serene. Untroubled.
Picture this. Katahdin round up! Wild-eyed heads raise. Ewes suddenly bleat. Loud baas fill the air. Stampede! Shoulder to shoulder Katahdins smash and crash into each other as they dart across the field. Through the barn doors they scramble to the sound of oats rattling in a grain bucket. All of the grown ewes and nearly all of their lambs rapidly dash into a holding pen. The flock swiftly settles in to munch on their snack. Unfortunately, four mischievous youth remain outside. Now what?
Katahdins Outmaneuver Rookies
Next, imagine four rookies. The rookies try to get four rogue lambs into the barn. Four on four. Sounds doable. Simple. Shake the grain bucket again and the lambs come. Right? Wrong! The craziness unfolds. Lambs sprong. One person chases the sheep on foot. To the left. To the right. The other three watch to make sure the gate is open at just the right time. Or not. Close to the barn the lively lambs advance at a rapid pace, almost in the doorway as it swings open too late and off they bound away again.
Then two of us race around, knee deep in mud, like maniacs thinking we can outsmart the nimble scallywags. Blocking them from their getaway, we are out of breath. This time the gate is not open wide enough. Under those circumstances the little lambs stop and stare with a twinkle in their eyes. Take out the binoculars. Get your bag of popcorn as the little devils skillfully leap in the other direction. Off they cruise again. Despite trying to be calm tempers begin to flair. We stop and stare.
Consequently we shout at each other as round three begins. Another strategy unfolds. Three rookies chase four sheep. The Katahdin round up continues. One sprints to the left. One rushes to the right. One stands smack dab in the middle. One is on gate duty. Finally, three of us block the scoundrels’ path into the pasture for only a blink of the eye. While the amateurs diligently stalk towards the stock the jubliant lambs turn and race away. Throwing up our hands the three stooges make no progress. The hair sheep seemingly chuckle at the idiots playing with chase with them.
Frustration Sets In
Out of patience I dive into the ATV without a word to my partners and motor up to the house. Enough of this nonsence. People are not meant to herd sheep. It finally dawns on me….duh….border collies were designed to round up sheep. Guess what we have at the house. Yes! Border Collies. Wagging his tail, Flynn jumps into the cab with me eager to do his job. Off I speed back to the sheep barn with my wingman at my side. I hope that Flynn does the trick.
Meanwhile, the folks at the barn get a brainsorm. They suspect where I have gone. As a result the Katahdin round up continues with one big guard dog at the helm. In other words grab Boo’s collar and move her forward like a Collie. Towards the sheep. Slow and steady. They walk and they walk and they never ever stop. As if by magic it works in spite of our mistakes. All of the lambs are reunited with their moms. When we arrive back on the scene it’s over.
Here We Go Again
No. The Katahdin round up is not complete. Now we have to wrangle each and every lamb so we can get what we started out to get……weights, DNA and immunizations. Crazy, but here we go.
