What do they know, that we don't?

[yellowbelly]

We graze a piece of grass on the edge of the Wolds that was sown down 'when Adam was a lad'.
It's all hills and holes and bushes and trees and all sorts of species of grass and weeds.

I've noticed that whenever there's a sick sheep in that field, they pretty much always go to the same place in the field. There's a holly bush (well, more of a tree really) there and it's on the edge of of an ancient sandpit with outcrops of massive sandstones (a load of geologists were there ranting and raving over it's uniqueness only last year).

We went to clip the sheep there yesterday and one (and her lambs) was missing. She was in the same spot and had mastitis in one quarter.

After we'd finished, I noticed that she'd gone back to the exact same spot...

The rest of the mob were a quarter of a mile away.
Strange?.....but true.

 

[Woolless]

The vet in me says they go there because it's cool and secluded. The new-age mystic side suggests those sandstones are bringing up healing energy from within the earth and holly apparently has healing properties. Maybe it's where two ley lines cross?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

They go somewhere to die in peace

 

[wrenbird]

Usually a gate by the road so every neighbour can see them before you do.

 

[yellowbelly]

They go somewhere to die in peace

I hope she's not that close She'll get another jab today and I nearly dare bet I know where to look.

 

[Dry Rot]

Apparently, sheep have families and tend to stick together with relatives in the flock if they can. Could it be where the ewe was lambed and so on in previous generations? There IS usually a reason, we just don't know it.

After lambing, a ewe will usually urinate. I've noticed that they will often return to this spot. Does pissing mark a rallying point if they lose contact? I don't know.

Could just be because it's sheltered, of course!