786. Preventing Animals from Mating

Shabbos 20:12

Rams may go out on Shabbos with a wide strap tied over their genitals to keep them from mounting the females; with a piece of hard leather over their hearts in case they are attacked by wolves; and with an embroidered cloth to make them look more attractive. Ewes may go out with their tails tied to their backs to encourage the rams to mount them, or tied down to keep the rams from mounting them. They may go out covered with a cloth to keep their wool clean. Goats may go out with their udders tied to make their milk dry up. They may not be tied for this purpose until after they have been milked in the evening, otherwise they may not go out.

Shabbos 20:13

A donkey may not go out wearing a saddle even if it was tied on before Shabbos. A horse may not go out with a fox’s tail or a red thread between its eyes (as a talisman). An animal may not go out with a feed bag on its mouth or with metal shoes, nor with an amulet that has not been proven effective for an animal. An animal may go out with a bandage on a wound, with a broken bone set, or with an afterbirth hanging from it. We may stuff the bell around an animal’s neck and let it walk around with it in a courtyard. Similarly, one may put a saddlecloth on a donkey and let it walk around in a courtyard. One may not, however, hang a feed bag on an animal on Shabbos.