1. Get Protection Animals
If you want to protect your livestock, you may want to consider getting different types of animals including donkeys, llamas, and most commonly dogs, as they can help reduce the amount of stress that the herd is going to feel. If they are not stressing, weight gain is definitely possible, and this will help you protect your bottom line.
Choosing the best animal really depends on the type of livestock that you are trying to protect. There are also animals that will not necessarily be guardians, but they can serve other purposes. An example of this would be getting a barn cat that can assist with getting rid of rodents, and this is going to help protect your eggs. You can also get roosters which can alert you to any potential danger that may be in the chicken coop. These animals will be very helpful, but you need to do research on which ones will be best.
Introducing these animals into your herd is a great place to begin, and they can grow up with your other animals and acclimate with them. Most of the guardian animals that you will see will be canines, and they can protect your farm around the clock. Although you can get donkeys and llamas that will be able to interact with the livestock at all times, you may not want to obtain them, yet they can provide round-the-clock protection. It is important to not put a donkey in the same area as a dark because donkeys do not tend to like canines and can be very aggressive, such as they would be with wolves or coyotes.
2. Implement A Buddy System
Grazing animals can be numerous, such as with cows and goats, and they will tend to graze together. The size of a cow, for example, is going to help it against predators, opposed to a small goat. Many of the herds will be bunched together as a defence mechanism. This is how goats and cows can protect themselves from an approaching animal and it will help them also stand their ground.
3. Invest In Fencing Solutions
Installing predator-proof fencing can be a problematic project if you want to protect your livestock. Many predators, such as coyotes, are able to easily get through the fences. Birds of prey can also attack from above. Alternative fencing methods may be what you focus upon. Electric wire fencing could be an applicable choice, providing a very good barrier, or you may want a multi-strand electrical fence instead. Fences can provide a solid barrier, as well as a windbreak, plus they can also assist with preventing erosion. If you want to prevent birds of prey from attacking your chickens, the fishing line can create netting that will protect them, along with reflectors or old CDs that can distract them. Motion-activated alarms and lights can also scare away ground predators, keeping your animals safe. See JB Corrie for high-quality fencing.
4. Switch Up Your Agricultural Practices
By making changes in the way that you conduct your agricultural business, you can preserve your livestock easily. When moving your livestock, always consider their grazing schedule, as this will also keep predators from forming routines when attacking and potentially getting your livestock. In fact, most predators have patterns that you can begin to notice and use that to your advantage. They tend to attack during the spring and summer, especially coyotes when they are looking for food for their pups. If possible, time all of your livestock births so that they are not going to coincide with when a predator will be feeding its own young.