Lambs and Rams

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My ewes are starting to lamb. My yearling ram tried to ram the first born lamb within the first hour it was born. I separated the ram to another field. Since my sheep are seasonal breeders, I run the ewes and ram together until about the end of September and put them together again in late November. In pen my ewes with lambs for the first week, then let them re-join the flock. My question is: how old should the lambs be before I let the ram join the flock again?

-- Patrick (psroll@aol.com), April 16, 2002

Answers

Your ram might not be good with the lambs ever. Hitting the lamb might have been a one off kind of thing too. I'd try once the youngest lamb is 3 weeks old. It'll have some substance and should be a little more fleet of foot.

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), April 16, 2002.

Hi,

I have found some Rams just naturally make good fathers,, but many do not. If your young Ram is butting the lambs,, there is a high chance he will not stop this behavior..and in time he may become more violent. This is a personal choice,, but Any Ram that cannot get along with the lambs,, ends up in my Freezer. Any aggressive behavior,,they go the same way..(So far the breed I have been raising, has not had any aggressive animals,,,) Nor would I breed that kind of Ram because there is a good chance of passing that kind of behavior on.. IF you want to put this young Ram back into your flock, I would wait until the lambs are at least 3 months old. For small sheep, wait until they are 5 months old.. that way they have a chance. Good luck!

-- Bergere (autumnhaus@aol.com), April 16, 2002.


What breed do you have? We always separated the ram for awhile to everyone used to each other. Watch your back though as there is a reason why he got his name.

-- Hank (hsnrs@att.net), April 16, 2002.

I usually use a ram lamb and then have it butcher when the job is done. I probably will be getting a tested ram this year but he will have his own home away from the lambs after all is bred. The ewes are bad enough with each other and hitting the lambs, the ram would be a too great of risk I would think. I had a ram 2 years ago that took me for a ride across the pasture. His life ended real quick.

-- debbie (dwoloctt@cwis.net), April 18, 2002.

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