[kaz]

I find that Ryeland ewe lambs are just not mature enough to put to the tup. They are far better left to reach maturity before lambing.

[Remy]

I think it depends on the ewe lamb - some mature much quicker than others.  I bought five Charollais and put them to my Ryeland ram as ewe lambs - they were all well grown by tupping time and all of them lambed the following year no problem, and all the lambs were good sized.  I've got some other breeds though that I wouldn't mate as lambs as they aren't mature enough.


I don't keep my ram in with the ewes all year round because I've seen him butt lambs quite hard - he comes out prior to lambing and goes in a 'boy's' paddock, then back with the ewes in November.

[SteveHants]

Re: putting ewe lambs to the ram. It is generally not considered to be a problem as long as they reach 40kg at tupping. I wouldnt put my slower-growing wilts horns to the ram in yr 1. Ewes who take the ram in yr 1 are likley to be more productive throughout their lives - called Ovine Early Oestrous (syndrome?). However, ewe lambs shouldnt be expected to raise muktiples in most cicumstances, so you'll have to do some fostering.