herded

Hered is the past tense and past participle of the verb to herd. To herd means to move, drive, or gather animals—usually livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, or horses—into a group or toward a destination. It can also describe organizing people or things into a group, drawing comparisons to a herd.

In agriculture and pastoralism, herding is a core activity used to manage grazing, transport animals between pastures, or bring them into enclosures for handling, milking, or branding.

Techniques and tools: Herding is often assisted by trained dogs, especially border collies; humans may use voice commands, sticks, or ropes; fences, gates, and corral systems are used to shape movement. The approach varies by animal species, terrain, and cultural practices.

By extension, "herded" can describe crowds or groups led by officials or organizers, such as "police herding demonstrators into a square" or "customers herded into a store." The term is used in sociology and media to describe motion and behavior of groups in bounded spaces.

Etymology and related terms: The noun herd refers to a group of animals of a single species. The verb to herd is derived from the noun; the past tense herded follows standard English morphology. Related terms include herder (a person who tends a herd), herding (the practice), and herd mentality (a social phenomenon).