[Hillview Farm]

Hello,

what do people here feed their rams if they need it? Are normal ewe nuts at 18% protein ok?

Thanks 

[Anke]

If you think he needs it I would feed special tup/ram mix. Mine also get soaked sugar beet shreds and some oats.

[Ladygrey]

Feeding a ram at this time of the year      I thought you wanted to breed sheep that didnt melt!!

mine dont get fed in winter!!!!!!

[Backinwellies]

GRASS!! 

[Bionic]

If I feed then it's ram mix

[Fleecewife]

Definitely never feed a ram with ewe pencils - they can cause stones in the urinary system which in the worst case scenario can be fatal.
If you do ever need to feed your ram anything more than hay in the winter you can get a feed called Champion Tup, from Carr's, which is formulated to be safe for all male sheep - wethers as well as entire rams.

At this time of year, if he's inside unable to get out to graze for some reason, then give him hay.  When we have snow lying for ages in the winter, too deep for the sheep to scrape through, we give our tups a small handful of the Champion Tup, and in fact that's what we give our primitive ewes and lambs, as it doesn't have the high protein of ewe pencils, which they don't need.

[Hillview Farm]

I'm not on about feeding him now! I haven't even got him yet! I was just Curios After a convocation with a friend who said they feed there rams 2 months leading up to tupping... I nearly fainted but she went on about mixing a bit of this with a bit if that and just wondered after reading about calcium in the pee department!

Just to clarify my animals don't melt and if the ram did I'd cull him! I expect him to loose a little as I'm asking 16 days worth of work from him in two days but if he melts... Gone! But then again we have carefully selected him and the breeder for animals that perform and do well!

[mowhaugh]

We also use Carr's Champion Tup Mix when needed.

[novicesmallholder]

Ours are on grass, just had discussion with vet and we going to give rams and ewes vitamin bolus, containing selinium, cobalt and Iodene. The boys will get theirs 4 weeks beforehand and the ewes 2 weeks beforehand.  They sit in thr rumen and give vits for 6 months.

[MarvinH]

You will need a feed that contains ammonium chloride.

[Me]

He'd have a job on to "melt" in 2 days!

[Hillview Farm]

I really don't understand why there is criticism towards me?? I simply asked a question and people jump to conclusions!

[Foobar]

Don't worry Hillview
I think there are a lot of ppl in the farming world who overfeed their rams in order to sell or show them, and maybe it's been assumed that you are one of those .  Maybe folks missed the "if they need it" bit!


If they need it, I use sugar beet nuts (unsoaked), or ram coarse mix, or something specifically for "all stock" or "rams".  never any feed that is designed for ewes.  Some people do flush (i.e. feed) their rams in the 8-10 week run up to tupping, I don't see anything wrong with that if you have a large flock to serve and you don't have good grazing available - maybe the good pasture is in use for flushing ewes or finishing lambs etc.  You just need to remember that they need to be "fit not fat".

[Hillview Farm]

Thank you foobar, And also thank you to everyone who has given helpful and positive feedback.

[Womble]

Can somebody explain the reference to 'melting' please?  I tried googling "Ram melting", but just got pictures of overheating computers!