The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: shrekfeet on April 12, 2010, 11:54:28 am

Title: sexually mature age?
Post by: shrekfeet on April 12, 2010, 11:54:28 am
I keep Poll Dorsets, at what age do you think the ram lambs will become a breeding problem? I'd rather not castrate if possible
Title: Re: sexually mature age?
Post by: Daisys Mum on April 12, 2010, 01:05:43 pm
 
My shetland ewes are all pregnant to an 7-8month old ram
Title: Re: sexually mature age?
Post by: Padge on April 12, 2010, 08:04:37 pm
friends of ours assured us our rare breed ram would not be sexually mature until he was nearing 9 months old as they are slower growing  ???naively and expensively we took this a gospel but took the 'precaution'of seperating him at 7 months.........lambing time last year we lost a ewe and her lamb not knowing she was in lamb....he had tupped her...............the main tup wore a raddle...no raddle mark.....it could only have been the young tup.....

this year we've castrated............a sad lesson