[Coximus]

Is it ok to have a ram lamb slaughtered even though its in season now? Lamb born april this year - at weight but still intact down bellow and busy buggering his penmates so obviously in full swing down below - or should I keep him on to heavyweight in spring and sell him then?

[Backinwellies]

Discussed this with our  abattoir man, he was sure it was fine provided they had not been kept near females. We have 5 going in two weeks.

[Foobar]

I've just sent half a dozen like that.  They been kept away from females for a few months and are usually okay that way.

[EP90]

Being a naive simple lad, can you explain why it would be a concern if the ram lambs are ‘frisky’ or why it would only be alright if kept away from females? 
I’ve sent pet ram lambs away at around 7-8 months without knowing of any implications of the above!!

[Marches Farmer]

The sight and/or smell of ewes send the hormones into overdrive, sometimes resulting in ram taint. 

[EP90]

Thanks for that.  I’d heard of ‘ram taint’ but hadn’t realised its origin, thinking it was down to age not hormones.  I’ve only raised rams or ewes, never mixed, so it has not affected me.