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XtraBlatt Issue 01-2020

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ON-FARM MANAGING

ON-FARM MANAGING LIVESTOCK ON PASTURE KEEPING WOLVES AT BAY Nowadays wolves can appear in Germany anytime and anywhere. This creates challenges, above all for farmers pasturing livestock. We speak with two experts on practicable protection plans. 50

The experts: Günter Herkert (left picture) is technical manager with an enterprise for barn and pasturing equipment. He also runs sheep and beef cattle as part-time farmer. René Gomringer works as adviser with his Sheep Office. Up until his retiral he was for many years managing director of the Bavarian Sheep Farming Association. As far as the legal situation is concerned, and the mood of the population, a clear picture is drawn: Those running livestock outdoors will have to come to terms with wolves being on the loose – whether they like it or not. This means increased sheep casualties are unavoidable. Even where compensation is available the problem isn’t solved. On the one hand, the real value of the animals is seldom paid. On the other, a wolf attack has an effect on the entire flock, and the shepherd too. A wolf attack leaves behind a horrible scene: dead, injured, panicked and thoroughly shocked animals. No one wishes such a scene on anybody. There are countermeasures, though. One is a functioning electric fence. “The recommendation is to work with at least four strands and minimum fence height of 90 cm”, says Günter Herkert. He’s technical manager for a barn and pasture equipment enterprise, as well as being a farmer himself. On his part-time holding he has 22 cattle and 15 ewes plus followers. “For some time, particularly the height has been a matter of discussion. The higher a fence is, especially a mobile one, the more effort is needed for erecting and dismantling. This has meantime got around. And, anyway, it’s been found that wolves seldom jump over a fence. They prefer to try and get through underneath and this is why the lowest wire should be not more than 20 cm above the ground”, he explains. 51