You should keep an open mind before writing something off as useless, especially if you're asking those in-the-know for help.
Herding is far from being a worthless skill. I could send you an essay I've written on the topic but I don't think you're actually truly interested in uses for the skill, yes?
If you want to simply waste skill points for the sake of it, just get 20 skill in 36 skills. The Jack of all Trades bonus for humans negates any skill invested at that level, so your points will truly be wasted. Or, raise supporting skills like eval int, anatomy, and arms lore, but not magery, healing/fighting, or trade skills.
In case you somehow misunderstood the OP; I believe the point here is to master
fairly worthless skills in the game relative to other skills (perhaps this means income, depending on how you define worthless). It's not about
wasting points, and much less in easy to obtain skill levels, it is about a challenge. It sounds like the OP has established goals that others do not often consider and would not devote the time to. Sure Herding has 'some' (I remind you the OP did say "fairly worthless") uses but it is quite limited in comparison to say, Magery.
However if you talk about use or especially worth, the Begging skill in that same spirit is 'useful' as well, and can bring in an income. But who actually takes the skill looking to be a power gamer? ... Regardless they are not common skills and I admire the effort to try new things,
considered useful or not... After all it's a game and as I said before, it sounds like the OP has found a different form of having fun and getting satisfaction out of UO, regardless of how he/she defines that.
Perhaps you would do well to keep an open mind as well, and read/respond with a bit more care and accuracy before you make a blunder.
As far as the essay, I'd be interested in reading it.
Happy Herding,
~ Solikos