Author Topic: Keeping your own ram for a small flock (Read 2850 times)

twizzel · « **on:** June 01, 2018, 07:04:13 pm »

Can any of you with small flocks explain the logistics behind keeping your own ram? Trying to work out the options for keeping a ram for a small amount of ewes (20 or so), and whether it’s economically viable to keep 2 as company for each other and use both at tupping in 2 groups (probably not) or what to do if I just have 1 ram. I’d prefer not to hire in or keep wethers as company. I keep going round and round in circles working out different scenarios

Fleecewife · « **Reply #1 on:** June 01, 2018, 07:11:53 pm »

Two is a good idea. Put them with one half of the ewes then when the daughters are ready, they go with the other tup and their mums stay with the original. You can keep going for a while that way for pedigree breeding and even longer if for meat.

twizzel · « **Reply #2 on:** June 01, 2018, 07:27:21 pm »

Currently running purebred and first cross Lleyns. I want to start breeding replacements so a Lleyn ram is top of the list- and possibly keep a terminal ram as company, either Texel or Charollais. A flock of 20 ewes probably doesn’t warrant 2 rams but it’s the only logical way I can see having my own ram would work. I can’t see the point of having a wether friend for it, would rather have something that earns its keep?

Backinwellies · « **Reply #3 on:** June 01, 2018, 07:30:21 pm »

what about a vasectomised one .... get lambing nice and close together .... work for me

twizzel · « **Reply #4 on:** June 01, 2018, 08:05:07 pm »

Yes that’s the other idea...

nimbusllama · « **Reply #5 on:** June 02, 2018, 11:08:20 am »

(I can’t see the point of having a wether friend for it, would rather have something that earns its keep?)

With my Castlemilk Moorits I used to change the wether each year and eat the older one, so it still earned it's keep

pharnorth · « **Reply #6 on:** June 02, 2018, 12:37:46 pm »

I have gone the 2 rams route, with a bit of an age gap to help changeovers. The economics in a small flock are different so some aspects just have to be managed.

Twotwo · « **Reply #7 on:** June 02, 2018, 02:21:59 pm »

I started with 5 ewes, now I have 12 ewes and 2 rams.
I hired for the first year, then kept one ram lamb and bought a ram lamb. So they are mates( most of the time!) and bought a few extra ewes. My home bred ram lamb went in with 3 new ewes, the bought in one with other new ones and the original ewes.
This will work for another year maybe two, then I’ll buy another ram and hopefully sell or swap my home bred ram. But it is a hobby and I don’t have to make a living from them.

roddycm · « **Reply #8 on:** June 02, 2018, 03:17:59 pm »

when I had just a few sheep I would borrow a ram from a friend... if this is not an option and you want your own you could get a ram lamb and eat him after he has done the job! Lots of people do this, some might say that the ram lamb will have a smell but I never found this to be the case. Others with small flocks keep the ram in with the ewes year round, personally I like to know when everything is going to lamb so I would not do this but it may work for you! Lots of solutions though

twizzel · « **Reply #9 on:** June 02, 2018, 05:28:18 pm »

Thanks, think we are going to go down the 2 rams route- 1 for breeding replacements and 1 for terminal meat lambs. Then bar buying in a ram every couple of years I can close the flock

bj_cardiff · « **Reply #10 on:** June 03, 2018, 07:48:07 am »

I've never had a problem keeping a Ram (or Two) with a flock of 20-30.

Ram(s) go in with ewes in September and can stay with them all winter, while they lamb and right up till weaning. I put my Rams out with the weaned lambs then. They stay there right up till I need to separate the Ewe and Ram lambs, then they are separated off with the Ram Lambs. Then in Sept back in with the ewes