There is plenty of space between desire and reality in many occupations. In the series "The Anonymous Job Protocol" people tell quite subjective, what characterizes their job - whether veterinarian, prosecutor or supervisor in the job center.
"In neighboring North Rhine-Westphalia wolf Gloria drives her mischief." She overcomes electric fences, does not always deter from herding dogs and has already torn a whole pile of sheep. "The colleagues live in fear for our herds.
In my opinion, Gloria should be killed so the sheep are safe again. Some animal rights activists are in favor of capturing and imprisoning them, for example in a zoo. I do not think so. Gloria is a wild animal that has lived in freedom and would only torture itself in captivity. Unfortunately, the Ministry of the Environment blames us shepherds. It claims that we have not protected our animals well enough and are therefore to blame for the fact that Gloria has torn the sheep. That's nonsense, of course.
A wolf who, like Gloria, has learned to bypass electric fences and all our protective measures, must get away as quickly as possible before teaching other wolves what she's learned. That would be fatal for the sheep population throughout the district.
Of course, we always hear silly sayings. "Why are you crying after your sheep? That's going to be slaughtered anyway," some people say. They do not understand that we have a very good relationship with our sheep and they represent our existence.
Lotta is a real career woman
I have the responsibility for five hundred ewes and a hundred lambs. This does not work without animal support from my dogs. Otherwise all six hundred animals run in different directions and want to eat. I have a Leitschaf called Lotta. Lotta is a real career woman. She has a great standing within the herd and is respected by all.
If Lotta stops, no sheep dares to pass her. It is also the link between all the sheep and me, the head of the herd. I'm not allowed to mess with Lotta. We have to be friends, without bribery and treats.
It's like any company: if I can only hold middle management, if I buy everyone a company car, then this construct only works very briefly. Genuine loyalty is more important. Incidentally, even in old age, Lotta gave birth to lambs, which later became good leading sheep.
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The anonymous job log: This is what everyday life really looks likeHourly rate: 6.80 euros
I've reduced my stock of over 1200 ewes, because I've been working for over thirty years and would like to retire soon. I wish very much that I find a successor who takes over my flock. But so far nobody wants to continue my work.
That would be bad, because in recent decades I have expanded and promoted nature conservation in my region. Sheep can also live on rough terrain. They prevent the erosion of dikes and slopes, fertilize the landscape and thus make the soil fertile. From the nature conservation point of view, my region has been one of the best-kept areas in Rhineland-Palatinate ever since I've been here. If I stop, it would all be history.
I once had an absolute dream job, but why someone should take him under the current conditions, I can hardly explain. I work 365 days a year, without a weekend and without holidays. Even with rain, wind and storm, I am usually out with my animals. I earn about 6.80 euros per hour. I sell the wool of my sheep and the meat. But I do not earn a lot.
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Trembling in front of the EU
With the money I get for the wool, I can barely pay the clippers who come to shear the sheep. I can not manage to shear over 600 animals on my own. For a kilo of mutton I get about 0.80 euros, for lamb about 2.20 euros. The price has dropped sharply in the past two years, by about 80 cents per kilo. And the expenses for the sheep, for example, for the herd protection have increased.
Even the bureaucratic hurdles are getting bigger. For example, I have to tremble whether the European Union (EU) recognizes my pasture as an agricultural area. But the inspectors who look at the land have a cornfield in their heads, with straight lines on which the plants grow. Of course this has little to do with my steep slopes.
The requirements for the slaughterhouses have also gotten harder. Therefore, I no longer slaughter myself, but only sell the animals alive. That's why I no longer go to the market. Actually, shepherds are more and more taken away from our existence. "
