Author Topic: Should I buy a ram? (Read 4590 times)

Jukes Mum · « **Reply #15 on:** August 27, 2014, 10:55:07 am »

Thanks Sokel

Shygirl- this sounds like a cunning plan! I assume that a tup lamb could 'do the deed'?

Bionic- thanks for that- I'm in North Yorks, but I think there is a rare breed sale in York in Sept.

sokel · « **Reply #16 on:** August 27, 2014, 12:42:08 pm »

Or you could just travel up to Northumberland and get a coloured ryeland ram lamb very cheap

shygirl · « **Reply #17 on:** August 27, 2014, 02:16:45 pm »

if the ram lamb is a quick maturing breed, he "should" be able to tup them before early spring. may result in a later lambing but maybe that is ok with you if it solves the problem. no guarantees.
can a neighbouring farmer not help you out?

Jukes Mum · « **Reply #18 on:** August 27, 2014, 02:51:51 pm »

Oh no, I meant for them to be tupped in November, not spring.
The only local Ryelands around here are the ones which have now let me down. I'm annoyed because I knew this could happen with a minority breed and I thought I'd done well finding a ram so local.

Anke · « **Reply #19 on:** August 27, 2014, 03:04:53 pm »

A ram lamb is your best option - do you have to breed pure? If this year you find that you cannot get a tup(lamb) in time why not go to a local farmer and get a texel type tup lamb to do the deed (then sell as soon as all in-lamb) and then sell all the offspring next autumn as fat lambs? I am sure Ryelands will do good sized cross-bred lambs. Then you can decide what to do afterwards.

I was in a similar situation a few years ago when I got some Gotland ewes and then found out the only other local breeder had decided to close her flock .... so girl are now routinely cross-bred to a Shetland and produce much better fleeces than Gotlands, really good sized hogs and have (marginally) better feet. I don't want to pure-breed them now anymore!

Jukes Mum · « **Reply #20 on:** August 27, 2014, 03:38:40 pm »

Hmm I guess I could do but this isn't really what I wanted to do.
So I guess I could look for a Ryeland tup lamb (ideally white, but may take you up on the coloured option Sokel!), hope that he'd serve the girls fairly quickly, then sell or eat him?
How long does one usually leave a tup in with the ladies to do the deed?

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #21 on:** August 27, 2014, 03:50:51 pm »

Do you have anyone with another Down breed - Southdown, Hampshire or Dorset Down? All Down breeds , including the Ryeland, had a hefty dose of Southdown a couple of centuries ago, and the Southdown itself had a dash of Merino around 1780, which is why the fleece is so fine. Don't go for a show type, as these have an increasing amount of French Southdown blood, so a much bigger frame (although it's hard to tell how much is the result of large amounts of cake).

Bionic · « **Reply #22 on:** August 27, 2014, 03:52:07 pm »

My tup lamb was in with my 5 girls for a month. I put raddle paint on him and then changed the colour after 2 weeks.
He was very keen but wasn't sure what he was doing and went for the wrong end the first time

I saw him attempt a few times but not really get anywhere but he obviously managed when I wasn't looking as they all got pregnant.

Jukes Mum · « **Reply #23 on:** August 27, 2014, 04:19:42 pm »

Ooo so this is sounding like an option then!

So now the hunt is on for a tup lamb (wishing my boy had bits now!!).

lesbri · « **Reply #24 on:** August 27, 2014, 04:59:47 pm »

I used a March born tup lamb (Ryeland cross) last year as I only had 2 ewes for him. I left him in with them for November, changing his raddle paint after 17 days and was able to make a note of when each girl was covered. He got both girls in lamb successfully!

I am unable to keep a ram all year round so this option suits us, we sent him off about a month later and there was no problem with ram taint in the meat at all. Im planning to do the same again this year with the 7 girls Ive got and hope it works as well.

Good luck!