Champion racehorses burst from their starting boxes and charge
towards the finish line, eager to win. Racing sheep, by contrast,
usually prefer to amble. That's why horse races are more popular
than sheep races. But an English farmer claims one of his racing
rams established a world record by covering a 220-yard course
(which included a "ewe-turn") in just 17 seconds.
To read about these tardy and speedy animals, click on SHEEP
RACING.
"Mutton
busting" is a rodeo event for small children (4 to 7 years
old, under 50-60 pounds) who ride a sheep bareback from the
chute to the other end of the arena. While the sheep don't buck
much, the ride dislodges most riders. The goal is to ride the
sheep for six seconds. Youngsters hang onto the sheep's wool.
The kids wear helmets for protection.
In
the Agrodome Sheep Show, 19 champion rams of different breeds
wait on a platform before making their entrances. After all
nineteen rams are in place, a shearing demonstration is given
with another sheep. At the tend of the show, Border Collies
demonstrate their agility by racing over the backs of the rams.
The
New Zealand Agrodome is a 160-hectare working sheep and cattle
farm with 1,200 sheep and 120 beef cattle. In 1999, the Agrodome
opened a woollen mill that shows all aspects of New Zealand
wool processing. The Agrodome gives international visitors to
New Zealand a real hands-on, live experience of farming and
a total interaction with sheep, goats, cattle, deer and baby
lambs.
White
House Woolies
President
Woodrow Wilson grazed sheep on the White House lawn. The wool
from the sheep was sold to raise money for the Red Cross during
World War I. The flock included "Old Ike," a tobacco
chewing ram.
For
six months during the 2001 foot-and-mouth crisis in Great Britain,
62-year-old Ms. Moira Linaker defied government orders to cull
her flock of rare sheep. Moira won her battle to save her sheep
and tells her story in the book, "Behind Chained Gates,"
available from Amazon.com.
In
some countries, sheep are used for fighting. The sheep are trained
to fight from a young age. They are chosen for their size. They
start fighting when they are three years old. Their career lasts
for about four years. Sheep fighting is usually part of a celebratory
festival such as Eid al adha (the Muslim Festival of Sacrifice).
In some countries, tournaments are organized, and the victorious
rams are exhibited in the main roads of towns.
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