Leadership and dominance relationships in Merino and Border Leicester sheep

Abstract The position of individual sheep in moving flocks of 20 Merino and 20 Border Leicester sheep was recorded automatically on 35 occasions over a 10-day period. In both breeds there were sheep which were always among the leaders and there was a definite ordering among the followers. Fewer sheep shared the lead among Merinos than among Border Leicesters. Sub-grouping of the Border Leicester flock accounted for the greater inconsistency in movement order; Merinos always moved as a single flock. Dominance-subordination relationships were assessed on one occasion for each breed separately by creating competition for space at a self-feeder. Among Merinos, the dominance hierarchy was almost linear but Border Leicesters were less rigidly structured. The correlation between position in a moving flock and social dominance was high.