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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 163
High humidity coupled with high temperature can also decrease his sex drive.
Generally speaking, in the west, August is the beginning of the breeding season which takes place in January. However, many breeds won't begin to breed until September. If your plan is to breed your lambs later on in the spring then delay turning your ram amongst your ewes.
The gestation period is 5 months, that is, between 148 – 152 days, so count back from your desired date to determine the best date to introduce the ram.
Ewes come into heat for about 28 hours, with around 16 to 19 days between cycles. So 51 to 60 days with a ram should breed all your ewes and this also applies to yearlings that come into heat later.
When ewes are on heat, they produce a smell that lets a ram know they are ready. There are some breeds of rams that have a keener sense of smell than others in their ability to detect the estrus cycle.
Ewes and Rams at breeding time:
Either the presence or the scent of a ram, has a great effect on estrous activity of ewes, however, with a ram that is constantly with ewes the stimulus is not so pronounced as it would be if he is put in a separate pasture two weeks before you intend to breed.
If you have more than one ram you will notice that one becomes dominant, and when they have been separated for any length of time start fighting, head butting to establish dominance. Once the social order is established they know their place.
It has been observed that the sexual performance of a dominant ram is greater than that of the other rams. However, there is the risk that the dominant ram might be infertile and as a result the flock suffers and this is why it is beneficial to use a marking harness.
Ram marking harness:
To enable you to know whether or not a ewe has been bred, a marking harness is very useful. The marking harness is attached to the chest of the ram and has a marking crayon. When he mates with a ewe, a distinctive mark is left on the ewe. Once you notice the mark on a ewe, note the date, by doing so you will be able to determine when she will lamb.
Generally speaking, in the west, August is the beginning of the breeding season which takes place in January. However, many breeds won't begin to breed until September. If your plan is to breed your lambs later on in the spring then delay turning your ram amongst your ewes.
The gestation period is 5 months, that is, between 148 – 152 days, so count back from your desired date to determine the best date to introduce the ram.
Ewes come into heat for about 28 hours, with around 16 to 19 days between cycles. So 51 to 60 days with a ram should breed all your ewes and this also applies to yearlings that come into heat later.
When ewes are on heat, they produce a smell that lets a ram know they are ready. There are some breeds of rams that have a keener sense of smell than others in their ability to detect the estrus cycle.
Ewes and Rams at breeding time:
Either the presence or the scent of a ram, has a great effect on estrous activity of ewes, however, with a ram that is constantly with ewes the stimulus is not so pronounced as it would be if he is put in a separate pasture two weeks before you intend to breed.
If you have more than one ram you will notice that one becomes dominant, and when they have been separated for any length of time start fighting, head butting to establish dominance. Once the social order is established they know their place.
It has been observed that the sexual performance of a dominant ram is greater than that of the other rams. However, there is the risk that the dominant ram might be infertile and as a result the flock suffers and this is why it is beneficial to use a marking harness.
Ram marking harness:
To enable you to know whether or not a ewe has been bred, a marking harness is very useful. The marking harness is attached to the chest of the ram and has a marking crayon. When he mates with a ewe, a distinctive mark is left on the ewe. Once you notice the mark on a ewe, note the date, by doing so you will be able to determine when she will lamb.