[Richmond]

I have 4 lambs coming up to 3 months old atm. All boys. 2 were banded correctly and 2 weren't due to my incompetence. I am hoping to send them off at the end of October when they are 7 months old. Will the rigs have developed ram taint by then?

This leads me on to another question: I have 2 entire rams (2020 and 2021 born) who I also want to go. I was going to send them this summer when the hormone levels are low and no risk of taint. Our butcher usually picks our livestock up but of course he charges for the privilege. To save money I was thinking that rather than sending the rams off in August and then the lambs in October, maybe send them all off together. But would the entires be too rammy at this point?

[shep53]

I thought some one would have answered , so my view is that ram taint not a problem unless you are very sensative , it used to be that all male lambs were castrated while young or kept entire for breeding and then rams were sold in january after using at large cast ram sales . Now male lambs are often not castrated and sold all year round as prime plus stock rams are also sold all year round when fit enough to sell

[Richmond]

Thanks for replying. I will probably hold onto the rams then and they can all go off together in October. 

[Twotwo]

Although I’ve only had sheep for a few years, I don’t ring my lambs and so far no one has mentioned any taint .. I also believe that they don’t get so fat as ewe lambs.