The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Primitive Sheep => Topic started by: Richmond on May 31, 2021, 09:12:19 am

Title: Sending a ram off to slaughter on his own
Post by: Richmond on May 31, 2021, 09:12:19 am

I'm thinking of sending our 15 month old Soay ram off as he's getting a bit too feisty with me for my liking. Shame as he's gorgeous looking, did his job well and got all the ewes in lamb, and his offspring (both pure and crossed with Wiltshire Horn) are all beautiful and growing well.
The trouble is I haven't got anything else to go with him atm and I don't believe it's a good idea to send one sheep off on its own. If I wait until the bigger crossbreed lambs are ready it will be well into autumn - and his hormones will be rising then.
Is there another solution?

Title: Re: Sending a ram off to slaughter on his own
Post by: Backinwellies on May 31, 2021, 09:33:31 am

If anything like our abattoir they go straight in pretty much so would hardly notice being on own.

Title: Re: Sending a ram off to slaughter on his own
Post by: Fleecewife on May 31, 2021, 12:20:56 pm

I would think it depends on the nature of penning in your abbattoir.  If he will be penned out of sight and sound of other sheep (as primitives are in our abbattoir) and if he will be waiting overnight or until all the commercials have gone through, then I would not take him on his own.  If though he would be penned next to other sheep while he waits, then that would be fine.


I am a bit surprised that he will be big enough at 15 months, as a Soay, to fit the machinery in an abbattoir, so check with them before you send him off. If you could keep him until August his hormones would be down still but he would have put on summer weight.  Can you keep him with others but where you don't have contact with him while you wait?

Title: Re: Sending a ram off to slaughter on his own
Post by: twizzel on May 31, 2021, 12:24:30 pm

I would just send him, not ideal I know. There will be other sheep in the lairage that although he won’t be penned with, he will be able to see.

Title: Re: Sending a ram off to slaughter on his own
Post by: Richmond on May 31, 2021, 12:49:31 pm

Thanks all. I will mull it over some more.

Title: Re: Sending a ram off to slaughter on his own
Post by: harmony on May 31, 2021, 04:52:57 pm

I would ring the abattoir and see if you can take him so he goes straight into slaughter. Not because of going on his own. Hundreds, if not thousands, of tups go to markets to be sold or change hands and travel on their own just fine. But because he has horns and it maybe they wont want him penned with other sheep.


Your other options are to sell him on from you as a breeding tup or get a wether to run with him.

Title: Re: Sending a ram off to slaughter on his own
Post by: Richmond on May 31, 2021, 09:12:00 pm

He has 2 wethers for company who are very attached to me - might be part of the problem - he is jealous!
I would love to sell him on and give him a chance with another flock but appreciate there are plenty of Soay rams out there already ........ sigh

I am a fool for a pretty face  .... if someone came to me with the same issue with a cockerel or gander or turkey stag the answer would be to get rid, so I know in my heart of hearts what the answer is really.   :(

Title: Re: Sending a ram off to slaughter on his own
Post by: doganjo on May 31, 2021, 09:37:04 pm

Is he a good looking ram? True to the Soay breed standard?  If so why not contact the breed society adn see if they can rehome him?

I just feel it would be a waste if he is a good specimen

Title: Re: Sending a ram off to slaughter on his own
Post by: Womble on May 31, 2021, 11:00:55 pm

The other option nobody has mentioned is doing a home kill.

It's not for everybody, granted. But we've done that in similar circumstances, and have no regrets.