Effect of artificial wind on sheep movement along indoor races

Abstract

The effect of artificial wind on sheep movement along indoor races was tested in two experiments. In experiment 1 a large wind machine was used to produce wind speeds of 0, 5, 10, 15, 21, 23 and 25 km/h. The test sheep were aligned in a starting pen to face the wind. Sheep entered both narrow and wide races faster when there was a wind, but there were no significant differences between the various wind speeds. Once sheep were moving along the race neither wind nor absence of wind affected rate of movement. In experiment 2 the wind machine was used with test sheep randomly orientated in the starting pen. As a control, the noise produced by the machine at each wind speed was recorded and played back through speakers at the end of the race. Wind speed had no effect on sheep movement out of the pen and along the race. It was concluded that an artificial wind can be used to attract sheep to enter a race if they are facing into it, but wind does not stimulate sheep to change orientation in order to move.