introduction: sheep are great lawnmowers. Downside = poop.
For areas of land that you want as grass, and dont want to sunbathe on (verges of roads) they're great.
problem : However, you have to fence sheep in. (else they get hit by tractors/eaten) Fences are expensive, and are impractical for complex shapes.
The idea: put computer-controlled goggles on sheep. These 'blank out' areas that you don't want the sheep to go. They would see a "black zone".
Hopefully - they would not go in the 'black zone' and would just eat the grass you wanted them too.
Therefor, sheep could travel hundreds of miles, independently - and eat only grass that was in the public's interest for them to do so. Saving many a LOT of money on farmers. You could "lead" them, and manage land exactly, getting grass the Precise "eat" ratio You Require.
Fatal Flaw: may not work. Sheep may rely on smell / touch and be able to find grass in the 'black zone'. I submit that even if this is the case, they would be happier out of it, so trespassing might be low - like 20%. This might not offer the Precision that 'road verces' require - but might still be accurate enough for a farmer to get rid of fences. Especially if they provided a 'bare-earth ring' around a designated enclosure. Besides - with sensory control, you could "punish" animals for their location... flashing lights, scary sounds... etc... I know this is evil And i would like it know that i ... DO NOT ENDORSE EVIL.-- nicholaswhitworth, Apr 11 2010 Sheepishly linked... Urban_20Remote_20Herding_20Array [normzone, Feb 13 2011] Don't sheep automow anyway? I.E. look for the greenest most tastiest sprouty stuff they can find, rather than keep eathing one spot down to the dirt?
The poo is not a problem = fertilizer.-- ShawnBob, Apr 12 2010 No, sheep are grazing livestock. Goats are browsing livestock.-- rcarty, Apr 12 2010 sp. endorse-- pertinax, Apr 12 2010 ... but an attractive idea-- pertinax, Apr 12 2010 // DO NOT ENDORCE EVIL //
So why are you here, exactly ?-- 8th of 7, Apr 12 2010 random, halfbakery