[smee2012]

When my borrowed tup went in last year none of my girls were at all impressed and avoided him at all costs for the entire time that he was in with them (6 weeks). We weren't sure if he'd actually managed to do the deed, as there didn't seem to be any raddle marks but judging by when the ewes lambed he must have got them all in his first few hours in there (before we put the raddle on him)!! 

[ThomasR]

Good sign I hope for the Zwartbles. The Zed tup has stopped chasing them around as if he was desperate. Does this mean that he has served them all or has just been rejected. I did not put a harness on him because there are only 4 girls. The heb tup still running after the 7 mature heb ewes like a mad man. I kind of expanded on the heb side and now have 8 , 7 ewes and 1 ewe lamb ( not in with the tup) they have an amazing character.

[smee2012]

We borrowed a tup and after the first week he started to get more and more aggressive towards me when I went into the field to feed them all. I'm assuming that this is because he'd done his job and so was protecting his ladies - despite the fact that all four of the ladies just wanted to have their usual scratch and fuss from me. Wilf was having none of it though. It was so obvious that they just wanted me to take him away again!

[SallyintNorth]

Each ewe has a 17 day cycle.  This means that she will come a-tupping for one day, and then, if she is not tupped or does not hold, she will come a-tupping again 17 days later.

Therefore in a field of 4 ewes for 17 days, the tup will have nothing to do for at least 13 of those days, even if all the girls are cycling.

You can only know he has done his job with them all when there are no ewes with him for each of 17 days straight.

[devonlady]

The ram's errr lovemaking? is so quick that before you can cross yourself and mutter a Hail Mary he's done at least six ewes!!!

[Buttermilk]

I have found that cowping an antsy tup and keeping him on the ground for a few minutes will give him some respect for you and make him think twice before getting aggressive with you.  This may need repeating at intervals when it wears off.

[Womble]

I'm sure it's all in the technique, but there's no way I could cowp our friendly Zwartbles tup, so I have to say, I don't fancy trying it with a grumpy one!!
 
We even check his feet with him standing like a horse.

[ThomasR]

The tup had a stand of with me today as I was saying hi to my girls. In the head I hopped the fence at rocket speed as he did not back down and starting waving his head about  >:(which I thought only cattle did. The girls where not impressed and starting to stand on the fence for a scratch. My Zwartbles are more tame and friendly than my dog so have turned into pets that don't come in the house. I check all my Zwartbles feet standing up mainly because I can't get them down unless I pull them on a halter. :roflanim:Have to say I love my sheep.

[ThomasR]

There has finally been a tupping. One of my Zwartbles girls stood for tup today and I'm so proud of her as will be getting lambs from zwartbles in April, just a bit later than originally thought. Went down to feed them this morning and once they had finished she stood for him . however he covered her maybe ten times, Is this normal. My heb girls need to take a lesson from zeds as they still won't stand for Frank. My zed tup is being a bully and taming my girls, I was in the right mind to go in there and put him in his place.

[shep53]

Rams all vary in how many times they jump , sometimes they don't quite get it right and keep jumping  , some need just one go for perfection , also depends how many females are demanding his attention ,     and some rams can be very rough getting a ewe to stand