Sheep Questions.?

Question

we have a few hobby sheep, our first year we bought a ram who produced no lambs so we kept a ram lamb from a ewe we bought when pregnant (we sold her). This year we have lambs - yeah!!!
so we are wondering if we keep a ram lamb of his will they fight? We only have 15 ewes BUT dont want to go through another year of no lambs, we heard that cold may effect rams fertility so he (having been here through the winter) have not be fertile (this seems odd, it got to -20 C here, they had a barn to go in)

so can you keep rams together with ewes or will the rams fight each other? is it true cold effects fertility? and what are the risks of having a ram breed its mom?

Answer 1

I have never heard that cold reduced fertility (except they don't breed during the cold months- once summer comes, they are fine).
As for rams together, some work and some don't. The way we keep ours is all of the males together in a bachelor herd for most of the year- they are used to eachother. Then, when they are introduced to the females, the older and more dominant one breeds the most, but they do not fight that often.
If you keep them with the females year round, they probably will fight. They may get along (it's rare, but it happens).
As for inbreeding- once or twice crossing is usually ok, as long as the genetic stock mother and father came from was relatively mixed. Once you start breeding them to their siblings, daughters, and grand daughters, you end up with a lot of stillbirths and genetic problems.

Answer 2

Yes, the older ram will at least want to chase off the competition, so they will fight. You might want to divide the ewes into two groups, with a ram for each, if you have the space. However, you'd better keep meticulous records so that there is no inbreeding, which can lead to deformities like parrot beak and worse.

You don't say where you're located, but if you're anywhere near New York State, I highly recommend going to the NY Sheep and Wool Festival at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. It's always the third weekend in October. (This year, it's the same weekend as the Burning of Kingston re-enactment in which I'm involved, so I can't attend. ) You can learn an awful lot there. Or, look out similar gatherings in your own neck of the woods.

In the meantime, I also recommend that you buy the book 'Trafficking in Sheep', by Anne Barclay Priest. It's a fascinating memoir detailing her life, much of which has been involved in raising sheep. I've met her and bought fleeces from her (absolutely magnificent blue-faced Leicester crosses). She's in her 80's, and still just most of the work herself, only having given up shearing her own sheep about eight years ago. You'll find many good tips in her book, I'm sure.

Answer 3

Depends on the rams, the season and how closely matched they are in size. I have two rams here, one was left in a bachelor group for several years where he learned to butt everything in sight. The other is a new ram who is very quiet and not inclined to fight. At first, the aggressive one was pushing the other around but now that the calm ram is bigger, he pretty much gets left alone. But, the ewes are not in season now and i would expect if they were both out with the ewes in the fall we might see some spectacular fights. But that won't happen as they'll be apart as breeding season next fall draws nearer.

Answer 4

first of all the rams are going to fight during mating season. it's natural. during the winter you can keep ewes and rams together without a problem. cold weather really isn't a factor in fertility. we raised over 200 head of sheep-we had 8-9 rams and they all stayed out in the feed lot during winter and we never had a problem with it. Another thing is to have your ram checked for fertility by a vet-it's a simple test. so don't worry about the cold weather-rams will fight it's natural, they might have some bumps on their heads maybe even a little blood but it's normal--I've was in 4-H for 10years and have raised sheep my whole life

Answer 5

Growing up, my family raised sheep. We always had two or three rams. When it was not breeding season, we kept the rams together but not with any ewes. When we wanted to breed the ewes, we would have the ewes with just one ram in the pasture with them. The rams would always butt heads and such, but we never had any problems with them being together.

I have never heard of cold causing fertility problems.

Answer 6

My exhusband worked on the Dolly sheep program for eighteen years. They used invitro fertilisation every time. You could use that and not have to keep the ram. Then you would not have to worry about inbreeding and cost of keeping the ram, and his fertility. You could also improve your stock by using a better quality line of breeders. Almost always the IVF people gurantee pregnancy or credit you back. Contract your Agricultural Dept of your state. The State vets are very freindly and very helpful.

Answer 7

Rams will fight if given the chance. Cold and fertility ? That one I have not heard about... heat can. Risk of in breeding is negligible for several generations.