The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Laurieston on May 30, 2014, 10:07:53 pm

Title: Should I keep a castrated Ram (lamb)?
Post by: Laurieston on May 30, 2014, 10:07:53 pm

So this year we have two lambs, both rams, from our three Ouessant ewes.  We don't want to keep a 'whole' or 'complete' ram ( is that what he is called when he is not castrated?) because we have found them to be aggressive, but we are getting very fond of one of them and may consider keeping he castrated.  We are mostly interested in grass cutting and wool anyway... 

The question is whether if we borrowed in a whole ram in a few years to tupp our ewes again, would our castrated ram fight with the borrowed ram, or would his lack of testos-tricles enable him to accept the usurper?

Any ideas or experiences to share?

Thanks

Title: Re: Should I keep a castrated Ram (lamb)?
Post by: Anke on May 30, 2014, 10:13:38 pm

No he won't fight, so should be safe to keep.

Title: Re: Should I keep a castrated Ram (lamb)?
Post by: Melmarsh on May 30, 2014, 10:26:31 pm

I kept a friendly castrated lamb to keep my Southdown ram company during the non breeding season. No problems at all as they are no longer ramish they are not a threat, they may however be tupped !!!!!!

Title: Re: Should I keep a castrated Ram (lamb)?
Post by: shygirl on May 30, 2014, 11:36:39 pm

"Entire" is the word you were looking for  :D

Title: Re: Should I keep a castrated Ram (lamb)?
Post by: ladyK on May 30, 2014, 11:59:15 pm

So if you have a supposedly castrated wether (he was sold to me as that) who shows interest in the ewes at tupping time (and is violently kept away by the ram) - would that mean he isn't properly castrated?

Title: Re: Should I keep a castrated Ram (lamb)?
Post by: kanisha on May 31, 2014, 06:33:27 am

That would depend on how old he was when he was castrated lady K and possibly if he had served some ewes before being done.  my wether will mount an on heat ewe although he is well and truly without the equipment and it doesn't stop him being interested in a ewe on heat. I tend not leave the wether in with the ram during tupping as it just gives the ram something else to have to think about but have done in the past and the ewes still took/

Title: Re: Should I keep a castrated Ram (lamb)?
Post by: Anke on May 31, 2014, 06:59:21 am

I usually leave the wethers in at tupping time. Have never seen them being mounted or showing much interest in the girls. However once the tup is out and back in his boy quarters with them he will mount the wethers, as it is still the end of the season... but it stops by mid-winter usually.

Title: Re: Should I keep a castrated Ram (lamb)?
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on June 01, 2014, 09:39:34 am

He won't fight, because the testosterone is not there. :thumbsup: