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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 164
For the first 16 days of the breeding period use one color, thereafter change the color of the crayon 16 days later and so on throughout the breeding season. If you happen to notice that a ewe has two colors, then this is an indication that the first time she was bred was not successful. If all the ewes have double marking, then the ram is sterile, however, you must remember that it can be just temporary infertility, especially if the weather was extremely hot just before you introduced him to the flock. To be on the safe side, introduce another ram into the flock just in case he is permanently sterile.
If you are unable to get hold of a marking harness, there is another technique in which you daub marking paint on the ram's lower chest. To do this mix marking paint into a paste with lubricating oil, vegetable shortening call also be used. Make sure that the only paint you use is one that will wash out of the fleece. This applies to crayons as well – make sure they are labeled for wool.
Raising your own ram:
There are advantages of raising your own ram, one of which is that you can see what he would be like at market age if he were being sold for meat. However, if the ram is older, you have the difficulty in telling how he looked as a lamb, or how his offspring will look when they reach market age.
The way in which rams are raised can have an effect on their future sexual performance. Studies show that rams weaned in an all male group show lower levels of sexual performance in later life. And remember, that if a dominant ram happens to have low fertility, then there is the possibility that many of your ewes will be unbred.
Recurrent ram selection:
If your goal is to raise lambs for meat, you could try a system called "recurrent selection of ram lambs". This entails keeping the fastest growing ram lambs.
Recurrent selection of ram lambs is a way of improving the potential for fast growth in your lamb herd. It involves changing rams fairly frequently, which means you dispose of a 2 or 3 year old ram whose meat is less tender and therefore less marketable, but if he is valuable, you can most likely sell, or trade him to other farmers for breeding purposes.
A Battering Ram:
There are rams that have earned the rightful name of "Battering Rams". These rams can inflict serious, sometimes permanent or crippling injuries.
If you are unable to get hold of a marking harness, there is another technique in which you daub marking paint on the ram's lower chest. To do this mix marking paint into a paste with lubricating oil, vegetable shortening call also be used. Make sure that the only paint you use is one that will wash out of the fleece. This applies to crayons as well – make sure they are labeled for wool.
Raising your own ram:
There are advantages of raising your own ram, one of which is that you can see what he would be like at market age if he were being sold for meat. However, if the ram is older, you have the difficulty in telling how he looked as a lamb, or how his offspring will look when they reach market age.
The way in which rams are raised can have an effect on their future sexual performance. Studies show that rams weaned in an all male group show lower levels of sexual performance in later life. And remember, that if a dominant ram happens to have low fertility, then there is the possibility that many of your ewes will be unbred.
Recurrent ram selection:
If your goal is to raise lambs for meat, you could try a system called "recurrent selection of ram lambs". This entails keeping the fastest growing ram lambs.
Recurrent selection of ram lambs is a way of improving the potential for fast growth in your lamb herd. It involves changing rams fairly frequently, which means you dispose of a 2 or 3 year old ram whose meat is less tender and therefore less marketable, but if he is valuable, you can most likely sell, or trade him to other farmers for breeding purposes.
A Battering Ram:
There are rams that have earned the rightful name of "Battering Rams". These rams can inflict serious, sometimes permanent or crippling injuries.