“…and today we’re talking about the most famous fluffy animal around.”
Looking to nature to find the cures for aches and ills seems like a uniquely human trait. But many animals use the elements to take care of their ailments. You may not realize, but there’s one farmiliar friend that’s extremely good at recognizing medicines in nature, wherever they are in the world. If you know the right herbs and minerals to take care of your health, you should count your blessings instead of sheep in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.
Description
- Looks like a waddling cloud with legs, or an ambitious cotton ball
- Thick, woolly fur in white, cream, or sometimes black or brown, depending on the breed
- Smooth skin under all that wool
- Medium-sized compared to other livestock, smaller than cows but bigger than goats
- Distinctive curved horns on rams (males), though some breeds lack them
- Flat, broad snout perfect for grazing, with eyes on the sides for spotting wolves mid-munch
- Cloven hooves, so they’re kosher
Measure Up
Welcome to the beloved Measure Up segment. The official listener’s favorite part of the show! The part of the show when we present the animal’s size and dimension in relatable terms through a quiz that’s fun for the whole family. It’s also the part of the show that’s introduced by you when you send in audio of yourself saying, singing, or chittering the words Measure Up into ldtaxonomy at gmail dot com.
Sheep in Fiction: Shaun the Sheep, Dolly from Toy Story, Samuel from Charlotte’s Web
Height of the Sheep
The sheep has a shoulder height of 3 feet (91.4 cm). How many objects fit into the sheep’s height (if the object is shorter) or how many sheep fit into the object’s height/length (if the object is longer)?
Question: How many fit into each height/length comparison?
A) 2.6 sheep go into the height of a Scottish thistle
B) 3.6 Highland bagpipe chanters go into the height of a sheep
C) 2.2 sheep go into the height of a Pictish standing stone
a) The height of a Scottish thistle
The Scottish thistle (Onopordum acanthium), Scotland’s national flower, typically grows to 5 feet (152.4 cm or 1.524 meters) tall for a mature plant.
b) The length of a Highland bagpipe chanter
A Highland bagpipe chanter, a key component of Scotland’s traditional instrument, measures about 14 inches (35.6 cm or 0.356 meters) long.
c) The height of a Pictish standing stone
A smaller Pictish standing stone, like those found in Aberlemno, Scotland, averages about 6.6 feet (2 meters or 200 cm) tall.
Weight of the Sheep
The sheep weighs 300 pounds (136.1 kg). How many objects fit into the sheep’s weight (if the object is lighter) or how many sheep fit into the object’s weight (if the object is heavier)?
Question: How many fit into each weight comparison?
A) 1 Highland cow calves go into the weight of a sheep
B) 130 haggis servings go into the weight of a sheep
C) 3.4 North Ronaldsay sheep go into the weight of a sheep
a) The weight of a Highland cow calf
A newborn Highland cow calf (Bos taurus), iconic to Scotland, weighs about 70 pounds (31.8 kg).
b) The weight of a haggis
A traditional Scottish haggis, made from sheep offal, oatmeal, and spices, weighs about 2 pounds (0.91 kg) for a large ceremonial portion, often the centerpiece of a Burns Supper, a Scottish celebration honoring the poet Robert Burns
c) The weight of a North Ronaldsay sheep
The North Ronaldsay sheep, a rare breed from Scotland’s Orkney Islands, weighs about 88 pounds (40 kg) for an adult ram, adapted to a seaweed diet.
Fast Facts
- Range: Found worldwide, from New Zealand’s hills to Scotland’s highlands, thanks to domestication.
- Habitat: Prefer grassy plains, hills, or mountains, but thrive anywhere with enough pasture.
- Diet: Herbivores that graze on grasses, clover, and other plants, with a four-chambered stomach for digestion.
- Mating Behavior: Rams compete by head-butting for mating rights; ewes give birth to one or two lambs after a five-month gestation.
- Social Behavior: Highly social, forming flocks for safety, with a clear pecking order.
- Sounds: Bleat with a “baa” that ranges from plaintive to downright demanding, especially at feeding time.
- Predators: Wolves, coyotes, and mountain lions target them, though humans are their biggest threat (or ally, depending on the shepherd).
- Lifespan: Live 10-12 years, though some reach 15 with good care.
- Fun Fact: Their wool can grow indefinitely if not sheared, leading to some hilariously overgrown fluffballs in the wild.
Major Fact: Herbalist
Zoopharmacognosy refers to the behavior of animals self-medicating by selecting and consuming specific plants, soils, or other natural substances to treat illnesses or maintain health. In sheep, this phenomenon is less studied than in other animals like primates or birds, but there is evidence suggesting they exhibit such behaviors.
Sheep have been observed selectively grazing on certain plants that may have medicinal properties. For example:
- Tannin-rich plants: Sheep may consume plants high in tannins, which can help reduce internal parasite loads, such as gastrointestinal worms. Studies indicate that sheep with higher parasite burdens tend to seek out these plants more than healthy sheep.
- Mineral-rich soils: Sheep may ingest specific soils or lick rocks to address mineral deficiencies, a behavior known as geophagy.
- Avoidance of toxic plants: Sheep can learn to avoid plants that are harmful, suggesting an ability to associate plant consumption with physiological effects.
Scientific Evidence:
Research, such as studies by Fred Provenza and others, has shown that sheep can self-select diets to address nutritional deficiencies or health issues. For example, experiments demonstrated that parasitized sheep increased consumption of tannin-rich forages like sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) compared to non-parasitized sheep.
Geophagy (eating soil) is another example, where sheep seek out mineral-rich soils to correct deficiencies in sodium, magnesium, or other nutrients, guided by sensory detection and physiological need.
How Do They Know?
This behavior is likely driven by a combination of instinct, learned behavior, and sensory cues (taste, smell). However, research on sheep zoopharmacognosy is limited and much of the evidence is anecdotal or based on small-scale studies. How might they know?
Sensory Cues (Taste, Smell, and Feedback):
Sheep have highly developed senses of taste and smell, allowing them to detect chemical compounds in plants, such as tannins, alkaloids, or essential oils, which may have medicinal properties.
Instinct and Evolutionary Adaptation:
Over evolutionary time, sheep that consumed beneficial plants were more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on traits that favor selective grazing. This suggests an innate predisposition to seek certain plants when sick.
Learned Behavior:
Sheep learn through trial and error. If a plant alleviates symptoms or improves their condition, they’re more likely to seek it out again. Young lambs learn grazing preferences by observing their mothers or flock members, a process called individual learning. This helps them identify safe and beneficial plants early in life.
Environmental and Contextual Factors:
The availability of diverse forage influences what sheep choose. In varied pastures, they’re more likely to encounter and select medicinal plants compared to monoculture fields. Health status plays a role.
Ending
So follow your shepherd, stare blankly into the middle distance, and make your own medicine like the common sheep here in LDT.