Dean M. Anderson, research animal scientist with USDA's Agricultural Research Service in Las Cruces, New Mexico, is bonding sheep to cattle into a cohesive unit termed a "flerd."

Flerds can help reduced coyote predation of small ruminants because cows will instinctively intimidate approaching canines. […] Even though dietary differences among flocks, herds and flerds remain similar on arid landscapes with abundant standing crop, animal distribution does differ.

Sheep and goats often co-graze with other animals, such as cows or horses. This grouping of species is sometimes called a flerd.

Flerd

Meaning

Noun

Origin

Rhymes