Ellen M. Bruno and Tina L. Saitone

from ARE Update Vol. 22, No. 6, Jul/Aug, 2019

View Article PDF: Livestock Guardian Dogs: Do the Benefits Outweigh the Costs for Sheep Producers?

Abstract

We evaluate the economic viability of livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) as a tool to reduce predation of sheep by coyotes. Cost-effectiveness hinges largely on the ability of the dogs to eliminate coyotes as a threat, which is driven by site-specific factors. Our results suggest that the benefits of LGDs do not always outweigh the costs.

Keywords

Benefit cost analysis, livestock guardian dogs, predator control, coyotes, sheep

Citation

Ellen M. Bruno and Tina L. Saitone. 2019. "Livestock Guardian Dogs: Do the Benefits Outweigh the Costs for Sheep Producers?" ARE Update 22(6): 9-11. University of California Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics.
https://giannini.ucop.edu/filer/file/1565891668/19229/