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Through 9 interviews we get to know a little better the day-to-day work of shepherds in different countries. Here are some of their testimonies.


Christina Ziegerhofer. Age: 38. Country: Austria

How long have you been working as a herder?  I worked two summers as a shepherd on the mountain pasture. Before that I worked eight summers on different cow and goat mountain pastures.

Have you received any training in pastoralism? I have no training in pastoralism.

What do you like best or most about being a shepherd? What I like most about being a shepherd is working with animals in nature. I also love the physical challenge.

What would you like to change about your profession? Shepherd is not my profession. I would suggest that there be more training and that the work be better paid. Also the accommodation for the shepherds should be a little more comfortable.


 Georgi Varshilov and Dimitar Varshilov. Age: 46/21. Country: Bulgaria

 

 

 

 

How long have you been working as a herder?  Our family is represented by three generations of shepherds. We are descended from old shepherd ancestors and we continue to raise sheep in now days. My grandfather raised sheep, my father, and now I and my son continue to raise our sheep.

Have you received any training in pastoralism?

Georgi: We learned from our father and grandfathers who raised sheep. I have been among them since I was a child and I know very good the work and life of the shepherd

Dimitar: I have been with the sheep since I was a child and I help my father and grandfather. I learned from them. I am currently studying for a bachelor of Zooengineering.

What do you like best or most about being a shepherd? I have liked the shepherd's way of life since I was a child. we are three generations of shepherds and our family has made a living from sheep farming. This way of life is in our blood. I can't do another job, and I don't want another job to. I like being with the herd in the mountains. I love the peace when I am with the sheep in the summer pasture. I like listening to the bells of sheep, and the barking of the dogs. I like to observe the behavior of dogs. I want my sheep to be the best, my flock to be the best.

What would you like to change about your profession? I would like to change the state policy regarding sheep farming and in particular towards extensive sheep farming. The bureaucracy and state administration in our industry are killing us. The rental of pastures for our animals is becoming increasingly difficult. I want to be changed the market situation in Bulgaria in terms of purchase prices of sheep products and its free sale from the farm.


 Jonas Dankert. Age: 34. Country: Germany

 

 

 

 

How long have you been working as a herder?  I have been working as a shepherd for 11 years.

Have you received any training in pastoralism? I did an apprenticeship as a gardener. I acquired the knowledge about sheep farming in several internships on other farms. In addition, I have completed a course on the slaughter of sheep.

What do you like best or most about being a shepherd?  What I love about shepherding is the closeness to nature.

What would you like to change about your profession? The danger posed by the wolf must finally be taken seriously and the sheep farms must be better protected from the wolf.


Ana Teresa Matos. Age: 29. Country: Portugal

 

 

 

 

How long have you been working as a herder? After attending the School of Shepherds in 2019/2020, I created my nature conservation project, so more of less 4 years ago. Last year, in 2021, I bought my first animals and started shepherding then, on my own. I have now 40 animals of the local breed Bordaleira Serra da Estrela.

Have you received any training in pastoralism? When I was a child I used to come to the mountains with my family, and it trigged my desire to work on nature conservation fields. So I have a Biology degree, a post-graduation in Ecology and Environmental Management and a forest engineering master degree. I also attended the School of shepherds in the Agrarian School of Viseu.

What do you like best or most about being a shepherd?  The daily feeling that I am leaving a better and more sustainable world for the next generation  Also watching the birth of sheeps is magical, in the past week I had a beautiful little female lamb, the first one of 2022 and I’m so happy for that.

What would you like to change about your profession? We need more cases like mine, I moved from Lisbon (Mafra) to Casais de Folgosinho (Gouveia), in the mountains of center of Portugal, and started my nature conservation project, without waiting for any support. People should be encouraged to become shepherds through training opportunities such as the School of Shepherds.


 Ciucanu Ncolae. Age: 48. Country: Romania

How long have you been working as a herder?  For about 35 years, I have been both a shepherd and a sheep breeder.  I currently own about 200 sheep as an Authorized Natural Person.

Have you received any training in pastoralism? Yes - Mountain Shepherd Qualification course, Level 2, 720 hours (November 2014-May 2015) organized in Asău, Romania 

What do you like best or most about being a shepherd? The pleasure of shepherding them. I have been attached to this occupation since I was a child.  I like to see them grazing, drinking water, how the lambs romping…


Charlote Blacker. Age: -. Country: Scotland

 

 

 

 

What would you like to change about your profession? More efficient working methods by mechanizing the works due to the lack of labor force in the field.

How long have you been working as a herder?  I was given four lambs in 2013 to help keep the grass down around our house. From this I have developed a flock of around 30 breeding ewes and started my own free range meat business with sheep, pigs and poultry. (www.herbmajesty.co.uk)

Have you received any training in pastoralism? No formal training. I worked closely with my neighbour who has a commercial flock and helped with sheep selection, lambing and medication. There was no online training when I started out but I am a member of Facebook groups like “women in agriculture” to share skills. I attended an Erasmus+ course on agropastoralism in Spain in 2018.

What do you like best or most about being a shepherd?  My favourite time is definitely lambing. It is a tiring and sometimes sad time when you loose an animal but it is also the best time when you get to see new life and to see the lambs thrive and grow.

What would you like to change about your profession? To have access to local rural or mobile abattoirs which are small, humane, and less stressful for the animals. Also to be part of a smallholders collective especially for access to small quantities of pharmaceutical products and machinery.


 Carlos Diez Roldán. Age: 53. Country: Spain

How long have you been working as a herder?  Since I was a child. With 13 years I was all alone in the mountain meadows with a herd for 2 months.

Have you received any training in pastoralism? No, just learning from parents and older professionals and family members.

What do you like best or most about being a shepherd? Mountains, being in the mountains, the tranquility, observing the animals.

What would you like to change about your profession? Nothing, everything is fine nowadays. Nothing to do with the conditions we had when I was a child and a young man.