[Chris H]

As all seemed peaceful I have left my 4 heb ewes in with Bob the ram with the idea of moving him just before lambing, they have a shelter and the field is idea should we need a vet. However and I am new to the lovemaking of sheep   but should Bob be still paying attention to the ewes? as in rolling lip, following and sometimes mounting. As they are not running does this mean they are not in lamb? please excuse ignorance but we all have to learn

[shep53]

oop's doesn't sound good is it just one ewe or all

[thenovice]

If they are in lamb, he shouldnt still be mounting them. How long ago did he go in with them?

[Chris H]

They went in with him at the beginning of November. Three of the ewes have not lambed before. Does this mean that they may not be in lamb? they seem perfectly happy

[SteveHants]

Is he a ram lamb? sometimes they get over enthusiastic...could be they aborted and he is recovering them tho'.

[SallyintNorth]

The key thing is - are the ewes standing for him, even encouraging him, or is he just attempting to mount and they are moving away? 

If the latter, then it's probably as SteveHants says, just overenthusiasm.  (I have one tup gives me concern every year as he marks every bottom within 30 hours - but he's just a tryer, thinks a ewe who says No means Maybe!   )

However, if the ewes are seeking his attention and/or standing for him, then it sounds as thiugh they are not in lamb.  It could be the tup is firing blanks, or that something has caused the ewes to not implant / abort.

[Chris H]

Bob is 6, he was given to me with the suggestion that he may not be proven? he was a bottle reared pet. I do not mind if they are not in lamb, but clearly I need to know? shall I move them out and maybe get the vet in to scan??
 
 
 
 
 

[Marches Farmer]

If he was bottle fed, a pet, and as yet unproven he may have fat deposits around the scrotum which are keeping his testicles too hot and impeding sperm production. 

[SteveHants]

 

If the latter, then it's probably as SteveHants says, just overenthusiasm.  (I have one tup gives me concern every year as he marks every bottom within 30 hours - but he's just a tryer, thinks a ewe who says No means Maybe!    )

I have a ram who marked 40 odd in 24 hours - they held.

[Blackbird]

he may have fat deposits around the scrotum which are keeping his testicles too hot.

I'm not at all sure I needed that in my mental image bank. The more I learn about sheep, the more my mind boggles. Is there a smiley for "Eyeech"?

[shep53]

Bob is 6, he was given to me with the suggestion that he may not be proven? he was a bottle reared pet. I do not mind if they are not in lamb, but clearly I need to know? shall I move them out and maybe get the vet in to scan??

  To get a positive scan you need to be over 45 day's since the last service, to get number's of lamb's you need to be 80 day's since last service .  Since BOB is still serving the ewes this timing is difficult, but with only 4 ewes and i assume you can see them several times each day why not make a note each time BOB shows interest  , so you will then know who is probably not in - lamb, if you wanted you could buy and apply a small amount of raddle  to help with identification