The Accidental Smallholder Forum
		Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Suebrew on October 29, 2017, 05:25:30 pm
		
			
			- 
				Hello I have a little black Ouessant ram.  I had him as a pet hes now almost 3 and is causing a bit of trouble with my other 3 wethers and pony.   I don't really want to have him put down but would anyone like him.  I am in Hampshire.
			
 
			
			- 
				why not just wether him ? problem solved :-)
			
 
			
			- 
				Your post mentions "other" wethers.  Is he supposed to be one too?  If so, are you sure he's not a rig?
			
 
			
			- 
				Can I have him castrated at 3 years old.  Plus will it calm him down.  Marches Farmer no he was not given as a wether I knew he was a ram.  My others are 2 hampshires and a Jacob and I don't like the way he goes for them.  He was very good for the first 6 months.
			
 
			
			- 
				Shouldn't be a problem and once the hormones have cleared his system he should be much calmer.
			
 
			
			- 
				Have to agree  with marches farmer testosterone fuellled behaviour, off with his bits! 
			
 
			
			- 
				Well I will get onto the vet tomorrow I had thought he was too old. I don't know why as my Alpacas were 3 or 4 when I had them done.  thanks all for your advice as I am pretty fond of Roger the ram 
			
 
			
			- 
				OK Ive spoken to the vet all can be done no problem.  They have quoted £150 /£200 does this sound a bit excessive????
			
 
			
			- 
				depends on how its done maybe get a second quote from a large animal practice? 
			
 
			
			- 
				I paid no more than £50 to have a ram lamb castrated a couple of years ago. A mature ram would be more expensive but what you've been quoted is excessive I think. Was that with a large animal practise?
			
 
			
			- 
				My neighbour had two 6 month old lambs done recently for £45 each. He took them to the surgery in a trailer, vet operated in the back of the trailer and they came straight back. Sounds like your vets want to put them under GA.. Make sure your vet is a large animal vet! 
			
 
			
			- 
				They are a large animal vet.   They only work on site they don't have a surgery. I might try and find someone else tomorrow. they are giving a sedation but I think a standing one not a general. Thanks for all your advice guys.
			
 
			
			- 
				Our farm vets up north were very loathe to castrate beyond 4 months old, but in your circs I’d hope they’d be more willing.  Did you try to negotiate?  
			
 
			
			- 
				Mine did not charge that for a vasectomy on a 9 month ram, which is a far more fiddley procedure.
			
 
			
			- 
				Could the vet not use a Burdizzo with a local anesthetic? That surely must be cheaper. 
			
 
			
			- 
				
Could the vet not use a Burdizzo with a local anesthetic? That surely must be cheaper.
If I remember correctly, Burdizzo is only legal up to one month on sheep, three on calves.  
			 
			
			- 
				Hi Sally
I think that is the case without an anaesthetic, but I was suggesting the vet could perhaps do it with an anaesthetic?  
			 
			
			- 
				£100 of the fee is the call out and then £45.00 for time with us rest is the 'job' in hand.  I am going to try and negotiate but they know they are the only large animal vets in our area now  :sheep: :sheep: :sheep:
			
 
			
			- 
				Ouch... £100 call out fee! For a large animal vet on an elective call out (I.e not an emergency) that is extortionate. That's along the lines of horse vet prices  :yuck: 
			
 
			
			- 
				How far from the surgery is your farm? £100 seems very expensive! 
Can't you take the ram to them and let them operate in the trailer? You'd have no call out then? 
			 
			
			- 
				You're in a very expensive part of the country and I've never before heard of a visiting-only vet.  Even so the word "extortionate" springs to mind.