[PK]

I heard someone mention in passing that primitive sheep breeds have a reduced propensity for herding. I have a small (x8) flock of Wiltshire Horn and although I can usually get them eventually to head in a general direction they do have a tendency to scatter. They don't huddle close together and move en masse following a leader. So the observation does ring true for me, or is it that I am dealing with low numbers?

[TheSmilingSheep]

That's really interesting.... and now you mention it, our rare breed Balwens don't ever herd in a tight bunch.... I'll often get a general 'gathering together' if moving field, but often little sub groups...  I saw some neighbouring mules in an adjoining field the other day, over a hundred of them, and they were in this remarkable (to my eyes!) tight huddle!
In part I'm sure, as you say, it's to do with modest flock size (we're 30-40), but also maybe with a small 'hobbyist' flock, on a smallish plot, they just feel very safe, and so less need to flock together?

[Womble]

Our Manx Loaghtans and their Shetland cross offspring were the same. When a local shepherd came with his dogs once to help us catch them, he spent his whole time trying to keep them in a group, with one dog continually having to go off and bring back the ones which bolted from the flock.

Our Zwartbles on the other hand do flock together..... around me. This can make walking very difficult, and tends to make my trousers wet if it has been raining  .

[Marches Farmer]

Our Southdowns and Badger Faces always gravitate towards separate groups while they're pregnant, but integrate the rest of the year.   They will flock when called and if they perceive a threat.

[regen]

Our 18 badger faced split into 3 distinct groups last year and often roam 3 fields apart. They only come together at the sight of a bucket/within sight calling distance or congregate in the barn in bad weather. As a group one always goes the wrong way when driven!

Regen

[TheSmilingSheep]

I love sheep....

[SallyintNorth]

Our 450 Swaledales flocked reasonably well some times of year, but trying to gather them off the 500 acres of moorland when they had their lambs with them was a nightmare.  They'd slope off when the dogs were busy at the other end of the pack, they'd drop down, unseen, into a pile of reshes...  Loved their chutzpah but oh my goodness it could be frustrating! 

My current dogs have learned how to gather and guide my primitive-ish fleece flock - less is more.  Dogs unused to very touchy sheep would have no chance.  I had a happy few hours at a sheepdog trials in Exmoor, watching most of the dogs scatter their batches of very touchy Blackies to the 4 winds

So I think it's not so much primitives per se as sheep evolved to take care of themselves - which includes primitives but also hill sheep.  And I don't think it's a factor of low numbers, given my experiences with a very large flock of Swales.

[PK]

Despite my original observation, this morning I heptavaced the sheep and it was quickest I've ever been able to round them up and sort them. I think it was a masterful demonstration of shepherding skill although my wife muttered something about ewe feed and bucket.