How many rams for 35 ewes?

DJ98

As above currently have a hogget belclarr but wondering would I need another one with 35?

Username John

DJ98 wrote: »

As above currently have a hogget belclarr but wondering would I need another one with 35?

1 ram should serve this many. All an extra ram would be, would be insurance. Is that ram you have proven?

DJ98

Username John wrote: »

1 ram should serve this many. All an extra ram would be, would be insurance. Is that ram you have proven?

Used as a ram lamb

ganmo

DJ98 wrote: »

Used as a ram lamb

1 to 50 would be the max advised in ireland.

NZ use 1 to 100 or more

Id say you'd be grand

arctictree

I had 1 to 30 this year and had no empties.

stantheman1979

Username John wrote: »

Is that ram you have proven?

Just because he was working last yr doesn't mean hes working this yr. You should be ok but i would always have a spare just in case.

Username John

stantheman1979 wrote: »

Just because he was working last yr doesn't mean hes working this yr. You should be ok but i would always have a spare just in case.

True - but it's hard to justify a spare when you only have 30 ewes too...

Future Farmer

DJ98 wrote: »

As above currently have a hogget belclarr but wondering would I need another one with 35?

I would run two just in case, perhaps get a more terminal ram.

We had one proven ram with 25 ewes last year, after 4 weeks we let 2 of my uncles rams in (as insurance), the first ram got 0 lambs.....

DJ98

Future Farmer wrote: »

I would run two just in case, perhaps get a more terminal ram.

We had one proven ram with 25 ewes last year, after 4 weeks we let 2 of my uncles rams in (as insurance), the first ram got 0 lambs.....

Any suggestion for a terminal ram?

Future Farmer

DJ98 wrote: »

Any suggestion for a terminal ram?

Texel or Charolais (got a good stocky tight one)

You were hear talk about other breeds but they are the main ones, and got for best value...

Are the ewes Belclare too?

sako 85

DJ98 wrote: »

As above currently have a hogget belclarr but wondering would I need another one with 35?

I think you'd be mad to buy a second ram for 35 ewes. if you put a harness on your ram, change the colour every two weeks you will see if there are a significant number of ewes repeating which would indicate a fertility issue with the ram. Why try fix a problem that hasn't happened yet and most like wont considering he worked well last year..

DJ98

sako 85 wrote: »

I think you'd be mad to buy a second ram for 35 ewes. if you put a harness on your ram, change the colour every two weeks you will see if there are a significant number of ewes repeating which would indicate a fertility issue with the ram. Why try fix a problem that hasn't happened yet and most like wont considering he worked well last year..

I think your right! He worked well last year as a lamb so what would stop him working this year as a hogget!

sako 85

exactly and if you keep a close eye out for a significant number of ewes repeating i don't think you'll have any issues.

Future Farmer

The above lads are right it probably is excessive, that said when you put them out you want them working too....

Just be hyper-cautious - that said was stung last year.

stantheman1979

We sent 2 experienced bulls out with 50 heifers couple of yrs back 1st day one got pneumonia few days later 2nd became lame. these things happen. It wouldnt be expensive to pick up an older ram and have him on standby.
Saying that we would send out 3 rams and a ram lamb to 200 ewes so if he was working then 35 should be no problem for him.

ganmo

we were lucky a number of years ago
one of our sufflok rams went and died(did I say lucky?) after a few days with the ewes so he left us with 1 ram for 80 ewes.
the reason we were lucky was that we had a home bred ram lamb so we lumped him out, the poor lad lost serious weight in those few weeks!

serfspup

sako 85 wrote: »

I think you'd be mad to buy a second ram for 35 ewes. if you put a harness on your ram, change the colour every two weeks you will see if there are a significant number of ewes repeating which would indicate a fertility issue with the ram. Why try fix a problem that hasn't happened yet and most like wont considering he worked well last year..

(assuming the ewes are cycling)leave him without harness for the first 17 days when the most work is on then harness him for the next cycle (saves a color) and avoids the brisket sores and other harness injuries that can occur.

rams are not that expensive any lamb is worth more than empty ewes...and a second ram arround is good company for the other when they are not with the ewes

MayoAreMagic

A handy way of keeping a backup is to come to an agreement with a neighbour where you swap a good strong ram lamb that would be going to the factory (or buy one off them). Keep him as a spare for the breeding season, then fatten him and send him off or put him in the freezer.

serfspup

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

A handy way of keeping a backup is to come to an agreement with a neighbour where you swap a good strong ram lamb that would be going to the factory (or buy one off them). Keep him as a spare for the breeding season, then fatten him and send him off or put him in the freezer.

yum yum fatty ram chops:eek:

rangler1

serfspup wrote: »

yum yum fatty ram chops:eek:

With a liberal ram taint :eek:

Some vets are fertility testing rams, One ram would be enough for 35 ewes if he tested fertile

Green farmer

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

A handy way of keeping a backup is to come to an agreement with a neighbour where you swap a good strong ram lamb that would be going to the factory (or buy one off them). Keep him as a spare for the breeding season, then fatten him and send him off or put him in the freezer.

I've heard of a few lads going this, mostly lads with small numbers of sheep. The benefit of this is you can keep changing ram every year, without ram being related to ewes

serfspup

rangler1 wrote: »

With a liberal ram taint :eek:

Some vets are fertility testing rams, One ram would be enough for 35 ewes if he tested fertile

there is only so much mint sauce can cover up:eek:

MayoAreMagic

Green farmer wrote: »

I've heard of a few lads going this, mostly lads with small numbers of sheep. The benefit of this is you can keep changing ram every year, without ram being related to ewes

I know people who do it and it actually works quite well for them. It is dependant on the quality of your neighbours sheep of course. You also get your money back fairly quickly on the ram lamb, plus a bit more, and you can always sell what is out of him if you don't like them. It is a good idea for a potential backup. Far cheaper than buying another ram, possibly an old ram, and having to mind him for the winter. Even if you sent him off, you wont make your money back after buying him for breeding, and how long would it take to fatten him compared to a lamb? Plus you mightn't even need him in the end. The smart money is going the ram lamb route.

As for eating him, some people eat them without issue, others might feed them to the dog, most will send him to the factory when the price rises late in the year - whatever works basically. You don't have to eat the chops...

jmrc

a ram lamb born early will cover 35 ewes hands down..
better again use two. after that they spend their time running around after each other and not getting on with the job in hand.

SilverKrest

One

JJayoo

Could you borrow one from a neighbour?