A livestock professional who tends and protects flocks of sheep on pastures, ranges, and farms.
What shepherds do
Shepherds move flocks between pastures, lamb out ewes in spring, treat illnesses, dock tails, shear wool, and guard against predators such as coyotes and wolves. Many work with trained Border Collies, Kelpies, and livestock-guardian dogs like Great Pyrenees.
Training path
Shepherding is largely learned on the job alongside experienced ranchers. Land-grant universities such as Montana State, Idaho, and Wyoming offer sheep management coursework, while the American Sheep Industry Association runs producer training.
Work setting
Sheep ranches across the American West employ shepherds, often on H-2A visas. Roles span vast public-land range allotments in Wyoming and Idaho, intensive dairy-sheep dairies in Wisconsin, and high-altitude summer pastures in California’s Sierra.
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Shepherd starts with S and ends with D. Browse other professions along the same letter.
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