Not an uncommon occurrence
Injuries caused to people working with livestock are not uncommon, according to Dr. Mark J. Ledoux, a large-animal veterinarian based in Brookfield.
“I probably know of someone killed by every kind of livestock,” Ledoux said. “You have to be careful with all livestock.”
As to why a sheep might suddenly attack, Ledoux said there could be many explanations.
If only the sheep among our citizenry knew this was possible.....
Sheep are known to attack after they have a baaad day.
Livestock injuring people....
When Linda Ronstadt was being photographed for the cover of Silk Purse the crew members were afraid she might be injured.
Hogs weigh hundreds of pounds and someone pointed out to her assistant that they could step on and break a person’s foot, or roll over and break their ribs, a hip or a leg.
The woman replied: “Don’t worry about Linda, she’s been on farms. She has experience handling large wild animals, including men.”
https://www.ronstadt-linda.com/artcir70.htm
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/279997301807829684/
Over the years riding through the countryside with my father I would often hear these kinds of stories that had a common thread to them.
They went something like this...
The old Schnieder farm. Used to haul hay for them in 38. Dont know what ever happened to them. The family moved after the old man got gored by a bull.
I remember coming here, the Micholichek farm. I milked cows there until 43. One night he didnt come in for supper. When his wife went outside she found he was gored by a bull.
In 1948 I was at the Krieger farm...
Let me guess, he was gored by a bull?
No, he was up in the silo and the damned thing collapsed on him.
Killed him?
No, he was a tough old son of bitch. He went right back to farming. He lived until 52 when he was gored by a bull.
I once had a Barbado ram sheep with huge horns. You could hear him at no particular time butting his horns into his shed that he was not confined to. He finally destroyed it.
Male sheep and goats ram, it's what they do. It's a show of dominance, finding the pecking order so to speak. I have meat goats and found that a 16" length of 2x4 held with one hand on each end to ram them back works well. Our buck was pretty spoiled and friendly to begin with and loves a good forehead/horn rub but he was trying to be the dominant one for a short time. Human always has to be at the top, no matter the animal you're dealing with. I've got two Great Pyrenees/Anatolian mix LGD pups that will end up being over 100lbs. No jumping and no aggression allowed from me. Set the rules and smack if need be when they're young but give plenty of love at the same time. The smacks can be ended and just the stern voice will do and the lovin' remains consistent.
That sheep might have also been at the farm for therapy from prior sexual abuse and had PTSD.
I got gored by a boar my first job outta college.....Ripped me from my ankle to knee. Can’t remember how many stitches but it was a BUNCH!
A bull calf pinned my adult son to the side of a barn, mashing the breath out of him. Calf would not move until my son’s co worker picked up a handy 2X4 and whacked the calf with all his might across the flank.
Lesson learned, always have a 2X4 handy when working with cattle.
I’ve worked a lot of sheep in my life and newbs always pat them on the head, which stimulates butting behavior.
They do love to be scratched, but do not pat the lambs, especially the ram lambs and for the love of God, never ever pat an adult ram.
As to why a sheep might suddenly attack, Ledoux said there could be many explanations.
Excessive taxation, repressed freedoms, mandated vaccination, a tax on tea ???
The father of one of my best friends was gored to death by an angry mama cow