News Animals

Math describes sheep herd fluctuations

Equations quantify periodic spreading, clustering

Merino sheep

ALL TOGETHER NOW   In a herd, Merino sheep periodically spread apart and cluster back together. Scientists have developed equations that can describe this behavior. 

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By Sarah Schwartz

- More than 2 years ago

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There’s something in the way sheep move.

In a herd, Merino sheep follow a predictable pattern of spreading out and clustering together.