Introduction

This website argues that we should care far more about sheep than we do and that we should care much better for sheep than we do, and it explains why. 

From the time of their domestication until the present, sheep have been regarded by humans as items for their use and purpose, and have been treated accordingly. Now, for a variety of reasons, it is time, over-time, for re-evaluation. It is the moment for change of people’s attitude and behaviour towards sheep. We human animals have been guilty of speciesism: we have not regarded other animals as our fellows and world companions. Sheep are, at last, seen as sentient animals. In the UK the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 has formally recognised that vertebrate animals are sentient. Climate change, now visible and with us, requires us, as a matter of urgency, to perceive and act freshly and differently. 

Sheep are vulnerable, sensitive, and they are prey animals. They are long-suffering. Mainly they endure bad times and bad treatment silently and unprotestingly. 

Most of what is inflicted upon sheep, derives from humans - directly or indirectly. The contexts that sheep are put in, the landscapes and environments in which they are placed, the levels and kinds of nourishment with which they are provided, the sorts of treatments they experience, the type and extent of their lives, are at humans’ choice and behest. To date, this has not been of a suitable and high-enough calibre. We might ask why. Could it be that humans, being aware, consciously or unconsciously, of sheep’s vulnerability - that they are not equipped to protest much or ‘fight back’ - think they can ‘get away’ with treating sheep not as well as they might?

Among the sheep farming community it appears that a very set way of doing things prevails. This does not seem to be queried or looked at imaginatively to see if there is a more appropriate, kinder way to treat sheep.

The public in general does not seem to have much regard for sheep. It appears not to ‘see’ sheep. This is probably because sheep are so prevalent and routine in the countryside that they neither draw the eye, nor evoke interest, or appreciation. They are ‘just sheep’. 

On the whole, people do not respect sheep. This may in quite large part be because sheep are not dangerous creatures, likely to inflict injury to humans (the occasional ram which is butting apart). Sheep do not inspire fear. 

Another reason why sheep do not attract respect or regard is their undeserved reputation of being unintelligent. Sadly, humans are not taking enough notice of sheep to absorb that they are intelligent. Similarly, they are not looking at them sufficiently to see sheep’s qualities, for example, gentleness, trustingness, and stoicism. Sheep have a lot to teach us, but we need to see that they do.

The requirement that climate change brings to alter styles of outlooks and kinds reinforces the thought that things cannot remain as they were. This in relation to how sheep are regarded, what their role is, what care they should have. Hotter temperatures will produce parched pasture, risk of wildfires; more and heavier rain will bring more flooding and over greater areas. Diseases may alter and increase. For reducing methane, and for other environmental reasons, the trend will be less meat eating and more of a plant-based diet. Climate changes render opportunities, and necessitate a radical rethink. Huge benefit could come to sheep. For sheep the opportunity is for a deployment which would be to their nature and instincts and which would allow them an entire and natural lifespan. Funded by society, farmers and sheep would be able to work as partners - rather than masters and slaves - in harmony to preserve and conserve landscape and environment. Conservation grazing would be sheep’s role, not delivering product. At last, sheep’s trusting in humans would be justified.

This website is about bringing more care about sheep and higher-standard care of sheep. Its fundamental concern is sheep welfare: improving it; providing sheep with greater well-being and a better existence. It is asking for a different paradigm in which sheep are viewed and looked after.