Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for

 

Title

Predation and Livestock Production: Perspective and Overview

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

October 2004

Comments

Published in Sheep & Goat Research Journal 19 (2004). Copyright © 2004 The American Sheep Industry Association. Used by permission.

1. Predation is a more serious problem for the livestock industry than most people realize unless they are somehow involved. This problem is almost certain to increase due to the dispersal of feral or wild hogs throughout the country and the expanding range of the reintroduced grey wolf.

2. Because predator species do not respect property or political boundaries, it is important that control efforts be conducted on a national, state or regional basis. At present, these efforts are carried out by the USDA-APHIS Wildlife Service Programs in cooperation with state agencies and livestock producers. Possibly some type of zoning could permit adapting management methods to the unique area being served. An appropriate approach for free ranging (fenced pastures) in the Southwest may be quite different from herded flocks or for farm flocks dispersed throughout the country.

3. Research relating to predation management should be a continuing effort, but should be a multidisciplinary effort involving those knowledgeable and close to the industries being served. Further, more research is needed to make existing management methods more effective, efficient and economical.

4. There is a need for more effective predator management tools including the limited use of effective and environmentally safe toxicants (see Fagerstone et al., this issue).