The recent trend within the Agricultural Livestock Industry away from employing permanent staff to utilising casual staff as a result of a decline in profitability may have implications for the welfare of livestock. This factor has not been examined in detail even though there are a number of studies concerned with the role of the stockperson (for example, Duncan and Fraser, 1993). From the limited number of studies performed, it is likely that the interaction between the stock-person and the animal is negative as adverse behavioural patterns are identifiable, even if the stock-person is experienced. The study reported compares the behaviour of ewes being managed by an experienced stock-person or by students undergoing training.