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Rams should be joined with ewes for two 17 day cycles (5 weeks). Extending the joining periods is not recommended on more intensively run farms, as this holds up the completion of important management events such as marking and weaning.
Can you keep a ram with ewes all year round?
It is winter right now and your breeding season has probably ended. My advice is to leave the ram with the ewes after the official breeding season has ended, at least up to lambing. He will graze with them and in the winter, he will eat hay with them. No need to add extra work to house a ram separately at that time.
How long does it take for a ram to mate with a ewe?
Sexual behavior. Ewes generally reach sexual maturity at six to eight months of age, and rams generally at four to six (ram lambs have occasionally been known to impregnate their mothers at two months).
When should ram lambs be separated?
“The main reason commercial sheep producers castrate male lambs is for management purposes, but if they decide to leave them entire they must be separated from the rest of the flock by 20 weeks to avoid the risk of unwanted pregnancies.
How many ewes can a ram cover in a day?
Ram groupings and coverage Fertile adult rams can serve at least 5 ewes per day, so over a 34 days breeding season (2 full estrus cycles), one ram could theoretically service over 150 ewes.
How long does the ram effect take?
Rams produce a chemical substance called a pheromone, which stimulates the onset of oestrus. After the introduction of the rams, ovulation will occur at 3-4 days but will be an undetectable ‘silent heat’.
Can a ram live with ewes?
I wouldn’t keep a ram in with the ewes all year round. Your lambing will be drawn out very long, rams cannot eat the same nuts as ewes so feeding at lambing would be very difficult. Also you want your ewes tame but the rams must have a healthy respect for you (and vice versa).
How soon can a sheep get pregnant after giving birth?
Answers: It is convenient to wait at least 3 months after the last parturition (lambing) before a ewe is bred again. A ewe comes into first heat at 7 to 8 months of age. A ewe should not be bred when she comes into her first heat.
Can you keep two rams together?
It is best to put all rams and wethers together at the same time after sheep breeding season to save yourself having to do several small groupings and reintroductions, and to prevent deaths.
What age do Dorper rams start breeding?
The Dorper is regarded as an early maturing breed. First oestrus in ewes occurs at 7-8 months of age at a liveweight of 39-50kg (Greeff et al. 1088; Schoeman et al. 1993).
What age can a ram mate?
Ram desire and mating Rams generally reach puberty between the weight range of 23-27kg. Almost all rams heavier than 27kg, regardless of age, will have reached puberty and developed a desire to mate. Maximum reproductive capacity is generally attained when a ram is 1-2 years old.
Can a ram breed his daughter?
The ram may breed his daughters and dam. Undersized ewe lambs may be bred. Because the times of breeding and lambing will not be not known, it will be difficult to properly time vaccinations, supplemental feeding, and other management practices.
Can sheep breed with their siblings?
mating of individuals that are related. Strictly speaking, however, all animals within a breed are related. So, in a sense, every purebred sheep producer practices some degree of inbreeding. This practice includes mating brother to sister, sire to daughter and son to dam.
How long is a sheep pregnant?
How do I stop ram from butting?
Spraying water on the ram’s face may dissuade him from butting. You can put a mask on the ram to keep him from butting. The mask blocks his side vision. Sometimes, the best course of action is to cull a ram that is overly aggressive.
Will ram hurt lambs?
Although it may seem more natural to let your ram run with the flock all year — as Ms. First, he can hurt both the pregnant ewes and newborn lambs. We’ve seen males butting females and their young, and even trying to mount ewes directly after lambing.
Should rams be kept separate from ewes?
if you keep the ram with the ewes then you will need to separate the keeper ewe lambs until they are old enough for breeding. though that’s more likely with year round breeding breeds like katahdins. whereas others that don’t breed year round, if you introduce the ram say December 10, then they will lamb about May 5.
How can I tell if my ewe is having twins?
How do I know if the ewe is going to have twins or triplets? Sometimes you can tell in advance from the size and shape of the ewe. If another lamb is coming, the ewe may get restless again, walking away from her lamb, or lying down with contractions. The second (or third) amnion may break with another flood of fluid.
