Tescos take on herding sheep

and also to be discussed on Jeremy Vines Radio2 show Jeremy Vines Radio2 show

I read it yesterday.  I had to check that it wasn't 1st April.  The world's gone mad!  :(

Oh for pete's sake. If this really stressed the sheep out farmers wouldn't be using them as it could cut the cost of their livelihood. Where on earth have they got this from.

Dogs have been used on farms for hundreds of years.

Good grief!!! What is it they say? Power Corrupts?  Who do Tesco think they are honestly?

If British sheep flocks were stressed then the meat would taste bad and they would abort their lambs.  Horses stress sheep out far more than highly trained working sheepdogs do.

The cynic in me thinks it is more a PR excercise for Tescos to try and give people the impression they are a caring and responsible supermarket looking at the welfare of animals.

They had two people on BBC morning news yesterday saying that sheep are more likely to get stressed if herded by humans rather than by dogs as they have been with dogs since they were born and are used to being herded. Using people to herd them using sticks etc will only cause confusion and more stress for the sheep.

I have given up shopping at Tescos after watching Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall attempts to change their policy over the way they sell chickens. They care more about profits than the welfare of any animal or the suppliers.

I have given up shopping at Tescos after watching Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall attempts to change their policy over the way they sell chickens. They care more about profits than the welfare of any animal or the suppliers.

If I ever go in there (tend to do our shopping elsewhere as I have always found Tesco to be so much more expensive than ASDA and Morrisons) I always talk in a loud voice about their chickens and how they encourage cruelty. I think you're right in that they're just trying to get some GOOD publicity -well that will backfire I'm sure.

I don't see many herders in that pic... maybe the people who visited were telling the truth about the dogs running riot?

There are probably more than you realise Carla as its New Zealand and its usual to use the Huntaway

OH no unbelievable  the views of a certain animal rights limited company on Radio 2

I don't see many herders in that pic... maybe the people who visited were telling the truth about the dogs running riot?
They are indeed Huntaways... very good herders.

Not to mention a couple of working type Bearded Collies and some short coated Borders, all very normal breeds in NZ sheep farming :)

well just goes to show you learn something every day :)

I just hate this sort of hypocrisy. If they were seriously concerned about animal welfare, they would only sell free range chickens and eggs.

Agggghhhh and if they were importing from Spain the SWD would be in the photo :)  This world is going crazy, PC going mad.

To add another twist to it, Ithought some cultures like their animals to be stressed as it is supposed to make the meat taste better? I certainly remember cultures that eat dogs make sure that the other dogs see the slaughter to get the adrenaline going. I really hope people aren't taken in by this rubbish.

Bleh! Stressed meat is tough, I prefer mine nice and tender :-)

hahahahahahahah i needed a good laugh and youve just given it to me ! lmao !!!!!!!!!!

And I thought the article they had about police horses on radio 2 the other week was pathetic!
Listened to this on the radio at work today, they had some drip from PETA whining about how mean it was to have sheepdogs rounding up the sheep, wet as bloomin' water they are.

Well, it's certainly a funny old stand for Tescos, of all people, to take but I think I should like to know more about what is going on than perhaps is reflecting in the report.  It appears to be regarding sheep about to be slaughtered so perhaps not out in open spaces and perhaps the general handling with the dogs is rather rougher and perhaps more biting etc than we are imagining when we conjure up pictures of "One man and his Dog".  Not sure what I think.

Hang on a second....So a way of looking after sheep for however long, all this time has been cruel?

Well the Lamb from our butcher can't be hearded by dogs as it's a lovely colour and a lovely tender meat all the time.....

Hmmmmm Anyway if Tesco wants to think that having wokring dogs put to sleep is kind then this world has gone mad!

The report may have been twisted slightly, lets face it thats how the press works however the PETA representative on radio 2 was totally serious in his claim that this is a cruel practice full stop not just in this case. Oh and he had experience of a Border Collie as well, being a totally stressed out animal, bet it wasn't allowed to herd.
Also I would like to see the men with flags or sticks get up at unearthly hours of the morning day in day out run around collecting up the sheep including the stubbern ones who think they know better than the dog do this for 8-10 hours and do it cheerfully in all climates for a bowl of dog food and a warm bed.

Advertising propaganda certainly.
I think people forget that there are many more herding breeds than the commonly seen Border Collie type.  All collies are herders; Corgis were used for herding cattle; Rottweilers are Dutch farm dogs [including herding] GSD - err Shepherd dogs, Komondors and Pulis mainly for guarding flocks but I'm sure also used for herding; Elkhounds hae been/are used as farm dogs; etc..- I'm sure you breed specialists can give more info on which breeds were traditionally and still are used as herders.
Dogs well trained be far more subtle in their handling of sheep and other animals they have greater ability in stopping and starting and speed thereby preventing danger - can't imagine a human speeding past a flock to turn them away from, eg a precipice.

> Well, it's certainly a funny old stand for Tescos, of all people,

Totally agree Isabel, Tesco's and animal welfare just do not go together, so if they're making welfare noises I can only imagine that there's more to this report than meets the eye.

The press of course will pump up the volume and imply that it's the 'One man and his dog' herding that Tesco's are upset about, but having seen programs about the treatment of livestock as it is bound for slaughter I would not be surprised if there is some rough treatment of the sheep in New Zealand as they make their way to their end.

IF there is rough treatment towards the sheep then I would not lay the blame on the dogs but on the men that are handling them, they are probably contract workers and as time is money they would want to get the herd shifted as quickly as possible so as move on to the next job, with no concern for any damage or stress that the sheep may suffer after all they're bound for slaughter so what does it matter (in their minds not mine).

When it comes to moving sheep that are due for slaughter in this country I believe our farmers treat their animals differently.

For a start I would imagine that most farmers in this country move their stock themselves and do not hire teams of contract workers, although maybe the odd lad or two.

OH and I regularly visit a wonderful farm in Cornwall, when it is time for the sheep to be rounded up and taken to slaughter 'Pete' goes out on his quad with his two lads and his old faithful Jed, Jed is going on 12 now but can still do the business, a few whistles from Pete and the sheep literally move like lambs to the slaughter, Jed does not go anywhere near the sheep, he doesn't need to. The boys round up the odd stragglers and there are never many of them and bobs your uncle job done.

So when Tesco's really show that they care about animal welfare by stopping their barbaric trade in 3 for a tenner chickens I'll have a little more faith in them until then they can '@*?????????? and any other expletive you care to mention

> So when Tesco's really show that they care about animal welfare by stopping their barbaric trade in 3 for a tenner chickens I'll have a little more faith in them until then they can '@*?????????? and any other expletive you care to mention

3for a tenner isn't the problem it is paying the farmer 3pence a bird that is.

> 3for a tenner isn't the problem it is paying the farmer 3pence a bird that is.

They go hand in hand. They treat their farmers like poo and pay them pennies, not just on chicken either, then stack it high and sell it cheap using the 'it's what our customers want' reasoning