Did you know that sheep can talk? Children's storybooks always portray sheep as saying, "Baa" or perhaps a more emphatic, "Baa-Baa". They never let you know that sheep are quite capable of varying their sounds to communicate their needs.
Our experience with sheep talk began the first morning we awoke on the ranch. We had spent the night sleeping in the back of John's plumbing work van which we parked under a She Oak tree near a paddock gate. As we parked and got set for the night we were unaware that a band of sheep lived in that paddock. As the sun pushed dawn into the sky, we were awakened by the gentle "Baas?" of about 30 sheep.
Our experience with sheep talk began the first morning we awoke on the ranch. We had spent the night sleeping in the back of John's plumbing work van which we parked under a She Oak tree near a paddock gate. As we parked and got set for the night we were unaware that a band of sheep lived in that paddock. As the sun pushed dawn into the sky, we were awakened by the gentle "Baas?" of about 30 sheep.
Yes, the baas had a rising inflection at the end that asked the question, "What are you?" We sleepily sat up and returned the gaze of the sheep. It took a while for the sheep to realize that we were people; people meant food and their sounds shifted first to the typical "baa" then. as we didn't seem to understand they wanted to be fed, they added emphasis by increasing the volume. We still didn't respond appropriately so they shifted to the most pleading "maas" I had ever heard.
I still don't know how they do it but the initial sound changes the more desperate they become to get our attention. If their needs are not being met, we have even heard the sheep add a "duh" to the end of their "maa". When they get "maad" we know that they will not be easy to work with.
When our first crop of lambs arrived we were even more amazed as we discovered the endless variety of sounds a ewe uses to communicate with her lambs. Each ewe has a different voice and different set of sounds to help her lambs learn how to be sheep.
When a ewe calls, her lambs come running. Well most of the time; just like kids anywhere if the lambs are having fun running and jumping there are those who prefer to play rather than obey. However, if a lamb doesn't heed its mother's voice, I have seen the mother butt the lamb away when it does come to eat. That is a big incentive to listen and obey.
As the lambs grow and are weaned the ewes return to speaking only when necessary. If their lambs call out they answer with a calm "muh." That seems to calm the lambs and everyone goes about the business of harvesting grass. That gentle "muh" is my favorite sound. It reassures me that the sheep are content and that makes a happy shepherd.
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