[rikkib]

Whilst feeding my sheep today my young tup lamb who has done me proud and done the ewes proud has suddenly started to do some strange things.  He will lift his head to the right hand side this is happening realy often , at least once every 30 seconds,  he has kept his condition all the time he was doing his job he now shows little attention to his ladies even though he is still in with them.  Anybody help

[Anke]

Whilst feeding my sheep today my young tup lamb who has done me proud and done the ewes proud has suddenly started to do some strange things.  He will lift his head to the right hand side this is happening realy often , at least once every 30 seconds,  he has kept his condition all the time he was doing his job he now shows little attention to his ladies even though he is still in with them.  Anybody help

Ear infection or mites, teeth trouble???

[SallyintNorth]

Have you given them any meds recently?  Fluke dose, injection, anything?

[rikkib]

No medication at all they are due now. Has recently though been banging his head on barn walls I never gave this a thought as he is a young tup full of himself (soay) eating well and obviously doing what his paid for. I hope

[Fleecewife]

Banging his head is just something tups do, Soay more than other breeds.   He might have damaged his neck doing this.  It's a good idea with head bangers to bash a stob deeply into the ground somewhere so he can smack that and can also use the squared edge to scratch between his horns.  Another use for willow branches (after they have eaten the bark off) is to scratch in awkward to get at places
 
There may also be neurological conditions which could cause the head raising - sorry I don't know the precise symptoms
 
If your tup has served all his harem and they are now in lamb, he will have no reason to service them any more.  Also, Soay are very seasonal breeders and we are no longer in the rutting season.  In nature, he would now move back with a batchelor group for the spring and summer, and leave the ewes in peace.

[Marches Farmer]

Is he grazing grass?  Listeriosis from haylage/silage can cause odd behaviour in the arly stages.

[feldar]

Is he cudding or is grass balling up on one side of his face? also does he circle at all and appear blind on one side. Our ram lamb had listeria last summer , he circled when trying to move and one ear dropped and appeared paralised. He also quidded food and it gathered in one cheek because he didn't chew properly.
if he's doing anything like that, get an antibiotic into him fast.

[rikkib]

No obvious signs of anything abnormal only fed good quality hay and good quality pencils licks etc.today seems to be ok  and now not showing any interest in his ladies only when food about.   Realy pleased with him he is becoming a beauty pity he isn't registered he has obviously come from good blood.thanks for the responses

[Fleecewife]

No obvious signs of anything abnormal only fed good quality hay and good quality pencils licks etc.today seems to be ok  and now not showing any interest in his ladies only when food about.   Realy pleased with him he is becoming a beauty pity he isn't registered he has obviously come from good blood.thanks for the responses

Are you feeding him ewe pencils?  These can be lethal to male sheep - he needs a feed designed specifically for males such as Carr's Campion Tup coarse mix.  Ewe feeds can cause the formation of urinary calculi (stones in the bladder) which can block the urethra and cause death if untreated.

[rikkib]

The pencils are all stock he gets Very few of them he seems to do on beet shreds which he goes crazy for.

[colliewoman]

I believe I am correct in say that sugar beet also should NOT be fed to males. Carries the same risk of urinary stones.


This is the reason I changed my crew over to the Champion tup when I had a borrowed ram in. However all my lot have done so well on it I am sticking with it from now on. Now I am back to just girlies, I do mix in a bit of soaked beet as they like it but on its own its grand stuff for a mixed flock

[shep53]

I believe I am correct in say that sugar beet also should NOT be fed to males. Carries the same risk of urinary stones.
[size=78%]quote]                                                                                                                                                                                         Dried sugar beet is a natural feed and standard fare for fattening lambs/hoggs and used widely to prepare rams for sale/show .   CALCINED MAGNESITE is the product added to ewe feed to stop grass staggers that causes urinary problems.[/size]

[rikkib]

Bock all stock pencils beet shreds salt licks fresh water  good quality hay lots of care  no problems