If you insist on free ranging like I do, I have 2 mutts (20 & 40 lbs) that guard my flock extremely well. They more often deter preds, but I have seen each confront a pred when necessary. I haven't had to shoot a pred actually in some time. Not everyone can have dogs though & everyone has their own set of circumstances to deal with. Having said that, Trefoil makes a good point as well.
