Sheep are nature’s silent conductors
Rainer Belzner - a shepherd with a long family tradition for sheep farming - lives and works among the vast orchards and the slopes of the Hesselberg. Together with his family, he runs a sheep farm near the highest mountain in Middle Franconia, Germany. In our interview, he explains how his sheep take care of the landscape, what life as a shepherd actually means and why, without sheep, not only meadows but entire ecosystems would lose their balance.
‘Sheep keep nature in balance’
Rainer, why are sheep so important for nature?
Rainer: Actually, everything benefits from sheep farming - animals and plants. The sheep use their wool to spread seeds on the pasture. This way they naturally spread plant diversity. It creates a nice rhythm: some areas are grazed, others are in full bloom. Always alternating. A good example for this is a rare butterfly, called lesser mountain ringlet, who lives here on the Hesselberg. It needs grazing to maintain its breeding sites. It is a subtle interplay: the sheep are the conductors in this natural orchestra.
‘What is an idyll for many is everyday life for us - whatever the weather’
What does it mean to be a shepherd these days?
Rainer: Many people see us out on the pasture when the weather is nice and think: ‘What an idyllic job!’ But that's only a small part of it. When it is windy or it rains, we're still outside.
It's not a normal job - it's a vocation. You're often born into it, like me. Or you have a key experience that stays with you. Because financially, there would certainly be easier ways.
The reality: working 365 days a year. The animals need daily care - no matter how you feel. Even when you get older, you can't just stop. But then there are those moments: The sun shines, the beautiful landscape - and you realise again why you're doing all this.
How does a typical year look like for a shepherd?
Rainer: For us, the year starts with shearing - usually at the beginning of January. That's when the animals are in the barn and we have to work quickly before the straw gets caught in the wool.
Then, from April onwards, they go out to pasture again. First to the lower-lying orchards, where the grass grows earlier. Later, up on the Hesselberg - it's cooler there.
We walk with the animals through the seasons. From the barn back to the mountain, a constant cycle. This rhythm has been established over generations - we live it every year anew.
‘The Merino land sheep is our perfect partner’
What role does the sheep breed play on your farm?
Rainer: We work with Merino sheep, a real multi-purpose sheep for wool and meat. Above all, it is able to march. This means that it is built in such a way that it can also run long distances - and our sheep on the Hesselberg have to do this.
Meat sheep with a steeper leg angle are more suitable for flat dykes where they don't have to walk as much. Our animals, on the other hand, have to really pull along - the Merino land sheep is ideal for this. This is why it is also widespread in southern Germany. There are still many transhumance shepherds here.
‘Our work is a genuine service - not a subsidy’
How does the marketing of your products work?
Rainer: I see us as a service provider for landscape conservation. We couldn't live from selling the products alone. In our business - and probably for 90 per cent of our colleagues - the main income comes from nature conservation projects.
We maintain areas and are paid for keeping them ecologically valuable through grazing. These are not subsidies - we do real work. We usually have one lamb per ewe. That gives us the income we need to get through the winter. The winter costs us 80,000 to 100,000 euros - feed, stable, care. And then we also need a wage for ourselves and our employees.
The problem is that there is hardly any wool processing left in Europe. Laundries, combing plants - everything has disappeared. Only a few niches remain. Without them, there would no longer be a market for wool. To be honest, I think it would be quite difficult to rebuild it.
‘Breeding is not a coincidence, it's a system’
How do you ensure quality in the herd?
Rainer: We pay attention to cleanliness when shearing - that's why we shear early when the animals come into the barn. And when it comes to breeding, I'm consistent: I only buy breeding animals that have been assessed, and I pay particular attention to the wool quality of the ram. This is because it is passed on very reliably. I select selectively over the years - this is the only way to maintain quality. It's a cycle of careful selection and constant improvement.
In conclusion: What do you wish for the future of sheep farming?
Rainer: More appreciation. For the work, for the animals - and for the role we play in nature. Because without us and our sheep, many landscapes would look very different. And many species would simply disappear.
