The UC-Hopland Research & Extension Center owns the only range sheep flock of the University of California. Over the decades there have been numerous research projects addressing topic concerns such as sheep genetics, range forage enhancement, lambing procedures, increased lambing rates, and nutrient needs. Most of that past research was done by UC Davis Animal Science or Agronomy & Range Science researchers whereas now the sheep flock is utilized more by the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine.
It has been decades the sheep were moved by herders on horseback ... and now we rely on faster means of moving sheep. The photo shows the use of an ATV and a border collie herd dog to move part of HREC's sheep flock to the barn. The wooden box on the back of the ATV allows the dog to ride (and rest) when it is not actually "working" the sheep.
