The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Richmond on May 31, 2022, 04:22:19 pm
-
Unfortunately it seems I haven't managed to band two of my ram lambs properly :-[. They both have a distinct bump up tight to the abdomen although the scrotum itself has dropped off. So I clearly didn't get one or both plums in the sack. And one certainly is behaving in quite a rammy way today, sniffing and "growling" round the ewes etc.
They are currently 2 months old (born 30 March/1 April) and I had intended leaving them with the mums till end of August, but should I get them away sooner, maybe end July or even earlier? They will be off to slaughter end of Oct. There are two other lambs with them who I think have been properly wethered - my husband did those!
-
Probably 12 weeks to be safe. Although technically they should be infertile as the body temp in the abdomen is higher than if it was in the sack, but I wouldn’t risk it!
-
I wouldn't worry the testes are high and so kept hot and effectively sterile the only danger is when it goes very very cold in say jan then they can be fertile , they will be more ram like and show ram behaviour
-
OK, thanks. End of June it is then. They are Wiltshire Horn x Soay - size of a WH, attitude of a Soay!
-
Some farmers use rigging on purpose to make teaser rams. You will be fine until the weather gets very cold, like below -10C (below 0.)
Edited to add link (https://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/sheep/to-band-or-not-to-band/msg774181/#msg774181) to my "unexpected lambs mid May in far north of England" story...
-
OK. Well I doubt we'll get down to those temps in Norfolk before August so maybe they can all stay together for a bit longer.
-
Weaning is recomended at 10 - 12 weeks so just wean and separate at 10 weeks