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Filed under Out & About, Science & Nature

The Strangeness of Sheep!

Oxbow

I am not at all sure what that sheep in the foreground is doing?  It is on bended knees with face to the grass…

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20 Comments CherryPie on May 15th 2012

20 Responses to “The Strangeness of Sheep!”

  1. Lisl says:
    May 15, 2012 at 9:39 pm

    It’s strange how sheep get down on their knees like this. I always thought it was easier for them to eat this way, but who knows…….

  2. Andrew says:
    May 15, 2012 at 10:19 pm

    I have only noticed this sheep behaviour in the past few years. Maybe I have just not paid enough attention before, or maybe it’s a newly evolved trait.

  3. JD says:
    May 15, 2012 at 11:46 pm

    praying?
    :)

  4. Claude says:
    May 16, 2012 at 6:38 am

    That’s a very pastoral scene. I hope we don’t evolve that way. I’m so short that to be on my knees would be nearly on the floor. Google says that sheep on their knees have foot problems. It should be taken care off.

    • CherryPie says:
      May 16, 2012 at 7:36 pm

      I had not heard of the foot problems before. I wondered if it was because I startled them a little when I got out of the car. The ones nearest the fence ran away and I thought this one had half got up from the ground, realised I was no threat so carried on eating from the half upright position.

  5. Ginnie says:
    May 16, 2012 at 7:58 am

    LOL. This reminds me of how I could sit down and watch sheep all day long. :)

  6. jams o donnell says:
    May 16, 2012 at 6:32 pm

    Clearly it was attempting to mess with your head Cherie!

  7. james higham says:
    May 16, 2012 at 6:59 pm

    JD took the words out of my fingers.

  8. Bernard says:
    May 16, 2012 at 8:09 pm

    Are you sure it was not just ….getting up, as you took the picture?
    Of course, if it was facing East?….it might have been praying to the ’sheep god’ to protect him/her from a painful slaughter that seems somehow to have slipped in ‘under the radar’ of the RSPCA, but not the BVA. (British Veterinary Association)
    http://www.bva.co.uk/public/documents/briefing_meps_slaughter_apr2012.pdf
    CherryPie, you may delete this if you have different views, I shan’t mind – but you see, I love animals. :)

    • CherryPie says:
      May 16, 2012 at 9:16 pm

      As I said to Claude, I had startled them by getting out of the car. I think it got half way up and then realised I wasn’t a threat and carried on eating. Lazy sheep ;-)

      I missed that bit of legislation too!!! Thanks for highlighting it. I remember from one of my school trips hearing the animals crying in an abattoir nearby where we were staying. They knew what was about to happen to them, it was awful.

      Your views are always welcome, whether they agree or differ with mine :-)

  9. Astrid says:
    May 17, 2012 at 8:00 am

    The sheep has a very contagious disease, the farmer should take care of it. I know it looks funny, but this is the only way the sheep can eat, without too much pain.
    Great picture though, love the lake in the background.

    • CherryPie says:
      May 17, 2012 at 9:35 pm

      I hope the sheep isn’t poorly but if it is I am sure the farmer will take care of it.

      I need to post the picture that includes the sheep I spooked when I got out of the car. The sheep that spooked all the others near by. It was watching me very carefully as I took my photographs :-)

  10. Frida says:
    May 17, 2012 at 7:37 pm

    Maybe to tired to stand and eat and he does like the Romans did. Lying at the table :-)