The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Brucklay on January 05, 2013, 02:19:56 pm

Title: Swap rams around or silly idea
Post by: Brucklay on January 05, 2013, 02:19:56 pm

OK this may seem like yet another silly question or maybe it's obvious - here goes -


I have 2 mini flocks - one registered shetland with their ram and one Castlemilk Mooit with their ram, everyone is happy in their system ie the 2 boys walk into their separate pen in the morning for a handfull of feed so they don't scoff all the girls stuff (not giving too much but no grass really - they have ad-lib hay and high energy lick).


Now I used the Castlemilk ram last year and he served the 4 ewes he had so I have no doubt from yellow bottoms he will have done his duty.


The shetland ram is new and 18months old - I have seen him mount (but not sure if he was successful) one ewe but paste dried out so not much yellow about.


Should I rock the boat and swap the rams around in case the shetland ram hasn't done them, as castlemilk crosses would be better than no lambs or am I just being silly and he has most likely done the deed.


Don't know of a scanner to confirm.

Title: Re: Swap rams around or silly idea
Post by: horlicks on January 05, 2013, 02:56:46 pm

I, m sure he has worked ok but you have nothing to lose swapping them around, as you say yourself crossbreed lambs would be better than none. Put some more paste on the castlemilk and you will know for sure, the rams will soon settle down  in their new groups.

Title: Re: Swap rams around or silly idea
Post by: SallyintNorth on January 05, 2013, 06:37:59 pm

I agree with horlicks.  Nothing to lose, really.  Even your boy who worked last year could be firing blanks this year due illness, disease, etc - not very likely but it can happen.  So it's good practise to swap 'em or join the groups up for 17-21 days  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Swap rams around or silly idea
Post by: thenovice on January 05, 2013, 06:52:51 pm

Couldnt you just re-raddle the shetland ram with a different colour, and leave him a while before mixing them all together  :thinking:

Title: Re: Swap rams around or silly idea
Post by: Brucklay on January 05, 2013, 08:36:02 pm

Thanks for the advice - as I'm really really keen to keep the rams separate I think I will swap them around just in case - hopefully both will have done what they should have but a few x lambs would be better than a shearling not getting pregnant.


They've been with the ewes since November so should have had plenty of chances - so this is sort of the last ditch effort - will repaste out of interest.

Title: Re: Swap rams around or silly idea
Post by: Dougal on January 07, 2013, 09:00:36 am

I'd be looking to swap them. Better some lambs than none if there has been a problem.