Now that sheep are recognised to be sentient - they feel and have emotions - any human treatment of sheep which does not display awareness of this is unacceptable. Required is fundamental change of outlook and way on the part of humans.

Of the many things salient to an improvement in sheep’s welfare, three stand out: sentience; live exports; rough handling. One of them is fundamental and paramount. It is sentience. With human recognition of sheep’s sentience, human behaviour must change accordingly. The totality of human’s treatment of sheep must show cognisance that sheep are sentient. As part of this, two things need to stop: live exports; rough handling. If sheep are accepted to be sentient - to have feelings and to experience emotions - live exports of sheep must be seen as unacceptable and obsolete, and rough handling of sheep must be regarded as uncaring, and not to be allowed.

Humans attach considerable importance to their dignity being preserved by others. They expect, too, to be treated with respect.  But humans’ tendency is not to see sheep as being similarly deserving. Sheep farmers, the sheep farming community, and those others whose activity involves sheep, display the attitude that sheep are for their, and other humans’, uses. They fail to demonstrate in what they do with sheep that they recognise sheep as worthy of their own dignity being kept and of being respected.

For a better life for the community of sheep overall, there are two key things which are necessary. What is common to each is altered outlook. One change of view demanded is from sheep farmers. The other change of view required is on the part of governments.

Has it ever been considered what bravery and fortitude sheep display?

If humans not only saw sheep as sheep, but troubled more to look carefully at them and register differences and variations among them, they ought to be led to treat sheep better and more sensitively.

Last month it was announced that there is to be a Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare at the European Commission. 

Nominated for the role is Hungarian Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi.  Animal welfare campaigners are pleased about the role. There have been some concerns expressed about whom has been selected for it. 

We know what constitutes sheep’s normal behaviour. Essentially, it is to be: at outdoor pasture; in circumstances that are quiet and relaxed; with appropriate lengths of time to eat, ruminate, rest and sleep; with opportunity and surroundings for mating, breeding, and infant-nurturing, in tune with natural cycle. A sheep needs to be with other sheep.

Providing entertainment using sheep can be done for varying reasons and in various ways. 

To produce a money-making entity, a provider may see entertainment as their means. A provider may perceive that having their ‘offer’ contain some entertaining elements will increase its appeal, and maybe widen the market for it. A provider may recognise that their core product lacks the dimension of being entertaining and so knows that this element needs to be inserted. A provider may be wishing to convey an educational message and will opt to do so in an as entertaining a manner as possible to endow that message with maximum appeal. A provider may be well-versed in the ways of good communication, and so will instinctively wish to use entertaining styles for connecting with their audience.

For education about sheep to be well given, the reality needs to be told, the communication done effectively, and with the manner and style suitable to an audience.

There is education about sheep. There is education about sheep done using entertaining means. There is entertainment provided through using sheep. So, a continuum exists. The greatest potential threat to sheep’s well-being is at the entertainment end of things. If the objective is entertainment, a sheep’s welfare and dignity can be under threat. 

At the height of summer, there are reasonable expectations of warm weather. The time is when the usual students are not at schools and educational establishments. Many workers are taking holidays in the period. A general desire in people to go away from their routine location is present and much acted upon. Those unable to, or not wanting to, journey much distance from their home, take day trips, or visit places near their domicile about which they have been curious but which without the circumstances presented by high summer they have not had motivation or opportunity to visit. So, at the height of summer there are a lot of people having leisure time in the countryside and a lot of other people having leisure time in the city.