A peek back into the past
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382068)
Rockingham, Australia
December 14, 2020 7:33am CST
Two things sparked this discussion. One was reading new myLotter’s discussion about helping to keep alive a rare Dutch breed of sheep. Titia Geertman (@TitiaG) has a flock of Drenthe Heath Sheep and is doing what she can to ensure the breed does not become extinct.
The other impetus was finding two photos of my pet sheep, Hercules, in a folder marked ‘Music Shack’ when they should be in a folder marked ‘Hercules’. So I thought I’d share, probably for the second time, a photo of Hercules helping us clean up rubbish after an outdoor concert on our property.
23 people like this
23 responses
@xFiacre (14784)
• Ireland
14 Dec 20
@judyev He was certainly a useful sheep to have around. During the summer we came across some black-faced sheep in Donegal. A European breed whose name I have forgotten. Must try to find out what they were.
Got it,
Valais black nose. Look like cuddly toys.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Dec 20
I nearly fell off my chair when I first came across pictures of these a few years back. Aren't they just the most gorgeous things? I eventually saw some in the zoo in Austria. They certainly look like toys. That's a great photo. Do you mind if I copy the photo to add to my collection of sheep photos?
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
15 Dec 20
@JudyEv I was looking at it wrong.
I missed other posts about him too I think
1 person likes this
@LowRiderX (22901)
• Serbia
15 Dec 20
@JudyEv I have the impression that every sheep is called Hercules, because whenever I see a sheep I think of your pet 
1 person likes this
@LowRiderX (22901)
• Serbia
16 Dec 20
@JudyEv Yes, that's true because I haven't heard anyone say so far about a sheep being his pet ... and loving it so much ... it just felt and it left a really strong impression on me.
Great, now I have names for two ...
1 person likes this
@TitiaG (251)
• Netherlands
15 Dec 20
I'm honored to be one of the reasons for this discussion and being an Aussi sheep I think he might have been a Merino. The photo is showing a Drenthe Heath Sheep Ewe with and without horns and a Ram. 90% of the ewes are horned.They roamed our heath fields some 6000 years ago and were on the edge of extinction due to crossbreeding. I still have the hornless ewe.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Dec 20
Herc was mostly Merino but had a few black spots on his legs so there was probably a bit of Suffolk in there too. Suffolks were popular for breeding fat lambs back in the day. Nowadays many flocks are based on South African breeds - better suited to our conditions than the British breeds and often self-shedding which saves shearing costs. Thanks for sharing the photos. I think it is a very admirable thing that you are doing.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
14 Dec 20
Glad you found this photo..oh yes I have seen Titia
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
14 Dec 20
@JudyEv It is so good isnt it Judy
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Dec 20
@RebeccasFarm It's a really worthwhile and commendable thing to do.
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Dec 20
That's Herc with his head in the bin! Here is he saying 'when are you going to put up the lights?'
@LindaOHio (222302)
• United States
14 Dec 20
Hercules was a lovely sheep. Such a cute picture.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208906)
• United States
14 Dec 20
I remember Hercules. Somebody I know used to have a sheep named Ba, BA who they bottle raised. He ended up getting kind of aggressive wanting to head butt eerybody though..so he was sent to an animal farm. I don't think he would have been an appropriate candidate for a petting zoo.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Dec 20
Some tease the lambs as babies then wonder why they (the sheep) want to keep playing when they're fully grown. And if you don't castrate the ram lambs, then they mostly get aggressive.
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Dec 20
I'm not too bad but I do lose the odd photo. Vince is hopeless. I don't think he really has a system at all. 
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
14 Dec 20
as always great picture - i have that folder problem as well. pictures in folders they shouldn't be in.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Dec 20
And then I wonder why I can't find a particular photo. lol
