Black sheep of the family

[Blackcatt]

Do flocks of white sheep actually treat a black sheep in their herd differently?

[B00]

No lol.

The old saying comes from wayyyy back when black wool couldn't be dyed like it is now, so it was useless to the farmer as a wool product.

[alfieblue]

Hence the saying: the black sheep in the family.

Must admit Boo - I hadnt realised where the saying originated from!! Must have been have a senior moment all these years! :o)

[Clanad]

At least here in the western U.S., flocks of sheep used to contain 1 black sheep per 100 head to help determine the number in the flock quickly. Since that time, around 50 years ago, other methods have made numbering the flock more efficient. Although we are on a cow ranch, I've friends (I don't admit it very often) that raise sheep by the thousands. Having spent a great deal of time in the saddle observing these stupid, smelly creatures, it's doubtful they would know enough to treat a black sheep any differently...
Although most sheep raised near here are Rambouillet or one of its American bred cousins, the Targhee or Columbia, by breed, many do raise a black faced/footed sheep bred more for meat than wool, called Suffolk... not any smarter, though...

[wolf63]

Are sheep stupid or do they just look stupid?

[cado]

wolf i hope if / when you eat ANY sheep products you get become ill.

[alfieblue]

I quite like them - being a veggie - I suppose I am a bit soppy thing!!!

Sometimes think they have more brain cells than a lot of humans! No offence anyone! Ok Im ready for the flak!! - dont be too hard on me!!! :o)

[alfieblue]

clanad - I like your anwers but too much information on the meat side! Im a vegetarian! ! No worries tho! Tell us more about yourself. :o)

[alfieblue]

Sorry, dont be to be nosey but family n me love the states - have spent many happy times over the years there. x

[wildwood]

>Are sheep stupid or do they just look stupid?

Sheep are very intelligent. They do not have an abundance of braincells that they don't use. Their life is a simple one that doesn't require much brainpower. They never worry about what weather will be coming tomorrow or next week, or whether they can pay the mortgage next week. They are born with the instinct to flock for protection against their natural predators, leaving the old and weak at the back to be eaten by the wolfs - this ensures the gene pool stays strong. As animals go, sheep are very well adapted to their way of life. They never make themselves sick by worrying about events that they can not do anything about, unlike another animal species I can think of.
Then humans came along and forced them to mate to particular individuals to produce unnatural breeds for their profit. Genes for excessive wool production were bred for and they even cloned the sheep. These humans are on the road to self-destuction with polluting their environment and their selfishness has caused thousands of other animal sopecies to become extinct.
I do wonder just who is the 'intelligent' one.

[wildwood]

*ok, ok, I'm going to bed now*