[Stanlamb]

This really is a dumb question but how do I mix raddle powder?  What sort of oil - is vegetable oil okay?  And what ratio?  How much should I mix to mark a ram - not the full 450g tub surely?

Thanks!

[devonlad]

I can give you my answer but also have a supplementary question. We put a couple of desserts spoons and then add veg oil very slowly stirring until it forms a thick but smooth paste. make sure to smear it quite well back on the breast bone rather than at front of chest.
my question is about how often to redo it. last year was the first year we used raddle paste straight on the breast bone and it worked a treat.. partly because all 4 came in to season the day we put him in and were all sporting red arses the following morning. they all took and lambed bang on date. this year however we have 9 to do and  it seems less smooth. on day one ( well actually minute one) he hopped straight on and left his mark ! after a few days there were no more marked but he seemed to have been paying a lot of attention to one who had a scuffed rump so we redid it. that was 4 days ago and this morning two more have very scuffed rumps but no paste. have just read that raddle paste needs redoing at least every other day- tricky when he's not too friendly to us right now-is this right ?

[SallyintNorth]

Any kind of oil, a lot of old farmers use old engine oil but I do think that can burn the ram's chest, so I use vegetable oil.

You want a thick gloopy paste that will coat a wooden spoon or flat stick, whatever you are using to apply it with, and stick to the wool well.  Rub it well in, all over the keel and up into his chest and a little way along his belly.

The first time you do it you need a fair bit, subsequent top-ups a wooden spoonful or two should be plenty.

The powder disappears into the oil at an alarming rate and it takes way more powder than they say on the packet to make it thick enough to apply and have it stick.

So I would put about half-an-inch to an inch of powder in the bottom of whatever you are mixing it up in, then add oil slowly, stirring it around as you do so, until you have a thick gloop.  If you keep it dry and covered it will keep all season, so you can use any excess for topping up.

[SallyintNorth]

Cross-posted with devonlad.

Yes it will need redoing every day or other day if you want all served ewes to have coloured bums.  BH specifically does not renew it, so he has well-coloured bums telling him who'll lamb first.  Then on changing tups we rudd again, so any second-service ewes get marked in a different colour, and we know they're the late ones.  Geld ones are picked out at scanning (if we scan them, we don't always scan all of them.)

On the moorland farm we wanted all served ewes marked so we topped up the raddle every day on those tups we could.  All tups were offered some cake in a bucket every day, and most of them you could get a smear of raddle on them as they ate. 

[Stanlamb]

Thank you both!  I feel so stupid having to ask. 

[SallyintNorth]

Not stupid at all !  More stupid to not ask and have to find out by trial and error, probably wasting a load of powder and oil in the process, when there's a bucketload of people already done it on here happy to share their experience!

[devonlad]

not stupid in the slightest- "stupid" would be not knowing and ploughing on regardless- plus it gave me the chance to slip my own "stupid" question in under the radar

[Rosemary]

I love mixing up the raddle - it's like poster paint 

[Foobar]

I use the whole 450g tub, just open it up and pour in some veg oil, a little at a time until you get the right consistency.  I use a wooden spoon to apply it, and I reapply every 3-4 days (depends on how wet the grass is, or how many ewes have been served).


If you don't use it all up this year, put the lid back on and it'll save for next year.


Defo not dumb questions

[Dan]

We have a bit on using raddle on TAS, with a video!

http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/livestock/sheep/using-raddle-to-check-for-libido-and-fertility/

 

[Slimjim]

You can make the paste thicker not by adding more and more powder but by adding cheap soft margarine to the oil/powder mix. It ends up as a really sticky goo that once applied with a stick will stay on and not be easily removed by the tup laying on wet grass. You save on powder as well.

[SallyintNorth]

Great tip Slimjim!  I'll be trying that one!

[devonlad]

yes cheers slimjim- have just been out and done it- watch this space

[Stanlamb]

Job done!  Thanks for all the hints and tips.  Will renew it in a few days too - didn't do that over the lady fortnight which might go some way towards explaining why so few ewes have yellow bums!