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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 167
3. Yoking is the fastening of two rams together, 2 or 3 feet (0.6 or 0.9 m) apart. Bows or straps are placed around their necks, and fastened to a light board, such as a 2 inch by 2 inch (5.1 cm x 7.6 cm) piece of wood. Once again, check to ensure rams do not become entangled.
4. Clogging. To clog, fasten a piece of wood to one foreleg with a leather strap. This will slow down and discourage both fighting and fence jumping.
EWES
To be a successful breeder, you need to be prepared.
1. Get your ewes, and of course your ram, tested for worms, and worm as necessary.
2. Check for ticks and other problems.
3. Trim away any wool tags from around the tail.
4. Trim their feet – this is because they will carry weight during pregnancy, good feet are important.
By taking care now, you reduce your chances for serious problems that may develop later on. For example, if you eliminate ticks before lambing, they will not be passed on to your lambs and you will not have to treat for ticks again.
Seventeen days before you intend to start breeding, put your ram in a pasture next to the ewes, but make sure you have a solid fence between them! As we mentioned earlier, the smell and sound of a ram in the next field can bring ewes on heat earlier.
If you have a castrated ram, he is useful too as he can be used to stimulate the onset of estrus in a flock. Turn him out with the ewes about 3 weeks before breeding.
The old proverb says, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder", by keeping the ram away from the ewes – never in a pen next to the ewes - before it is time to breed, the sudden contact when you let him come into contact excites the ewes!
4. Clogging. To clog, fasten a piece of wood to one foreleg with a leather strap. This will slow down and discourage both fighting and fence jumping.
EWES
To be a successful breeder, you need to be prepared.
1. Get your ewes, and of course your ram, tested for worms, and worm as necessary.
2. Check for ticks and other problems.
3. Trim away any wool tags from around the tail.
4. Trim their feet – this is because they will carry weight during pregnancy, good feet are important.
By taking care now, you reduce your chances for serious problems that may develop later on. For example, if you eliminate ticks before lambing, they will not be passed on to your lambs and you will not have to treat for ticks again.
Seventeen days before you intend to start breeding, put your ram in a pasture next to the ewes, but make sure you have a solid fence between them! As we mentioned earlier, the smell and sound of a ram in the next field can bring ewes on heat earlier.
If you have a castrated ram, he is useful too as he can be used to stimulate the onset of estrus in a flock. Turn him out with the ewes about 3 weeks before breeding.
The old proverb says, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder", by keeping the ram away from the ewes – never in a pen next to the ewes - before it is time to breed, the sudden contact when you let him come into contact excites the ewes!