[Bramley belle]

Can anyone help, I have my rams in a barn, they have been happily living together for the last 6 months and have suddenly started to butt each other, can anyone tell me if this will pass or  is this how they will be from now on, I have 4 of them booked into the abbotoir for Monday, is it wise to find the ring leader and send him off first.

[GeorgieB82]

My two rams will have periods of 'fighting' throughout the year; I believe its a pecking order thing.

[Bramley belle]

Thank you, was hoping that was the case.

[Hellybee]

Our young rams had a bit of a tussle on sunday after shearing, silly buggers didn't recognise each other 

[Foobar]

I don't suppose they have been very recently shorn?

[Marches Farmer]

It's a bit early for most breeds to start serious fighting.  If you hear a noise like someone banging two breeze blocks together as you go down to the field you'll know tupping time is getting close.  Best to separate them before this (we do mid August), especially if they're horned breeds.

[Bramley belle]

They were shorn about a month ago, they are Shetlands.

[SallyintNorth]

If they are ramming each other on the body as well as head-to-head they may be causing bruising that will make the meat unappealing.  If it's for yourself you maybe don't mind, but if it's to sell it would spoil any joints.

[Fleecewife]

Is there a reason they are in the barn?  At this time of year sheep should be out grazing and improving the taste and musculature of their meat.  They could well be fed up with being inside, restless and bored.
It sounds as if you just need to get them all off for slaughter as soon as you can.  You don't say how many there are altogether, or how old they are, but any left behind when the four go on Monday will have to re-establish the pecking or butting order so will do a bit more fighting to settle it.  Sending one off on his own wouldn't ease the problem and would be stressful for the individual.

[Bramley belle]

Hi they were outside but kept escaping so have had to pop them in the barn, we have changed our plan and all are off to the abbotoir on Monday, things have settled down now and will hopefully sta so till then.