How to watch over animals

In a paddock

To make a paddock, put a fence around the pasture so that the animals cannot get out. The fence is made with wire and posts. But wire is costly.

Two kinds of fence

There are cheaper ways of making a fence. You can plant a row of small trees very close to one another, or two rows of sisal or thorns. You can also use millet stalks. It takes a lot of time and work to make fences and keep them in good repair

In the paddock it is easier to keep the animals under watch.

They can't get out and damage the crops, and they make better use of all the grass of the pasture.

Making fences requires money and work. It is useless to spend money unless at the same time you improve the animals' food, and house the better and look after them better.

· With a herdsman

It is best for the farmer himself to watch over his animals. He can also get some member of the family to do it. Or several farmers who know one another well can put their animals together, have them vaccinated, and pay a herdsman.

In any event, the farmer must keep an eye on the herdsman to make sure he is doing his job well.

To do his job well, a herdsman must know about animals, look after them well, and lead them to good pastures.

A good herdsman does not cheat the farmers; for example, he does not sell the milk which the young animals are supposed to drink.

To help the herdsman, a dog can be trained to lead the animals, to prevent them leaving the herd and to bring them back when they do.

A well- trained dog is very useful to the herdsman.