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Hen-Gen

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I like to think that I know a bit about sheep but someone asked me why rams are removed from the flock after mating. Why not leave them all together until mid summer?
Couldn't answer this one. Does anyone know?
 
I would imagine the main reason is so you don't get any late lambs and therefore your management becomes a lot easier.
 
My neighbour said that is the case, vital if you have huge flocks and you want all your lambs born at once, then you can let them all back out at the same time and not have to keep any pregnant ewes at the lambing sheds. She has a small flock and does leave the rams out with the ewes, which is usually ok but this year she had a lamb born in June.
 
For her it wasn't too bad a problem as the ewe stayed behind with some lambs that had been bottle fed, but if you had a lot of them wolfing down haylage whilst waiting to give birth the costs mount up. Seems very quiet now all the wintering cattle and the sheep are out in the fields. Miss the spring sounds of lambs ans ewes. Not to mention Raven the bull. She did get some piglets this week so pork, bacon for freezer soon
 
Speaking of sheep, isn't it pretty late in the year to have a field of sheep that haven't been shorn yet? I passed a field yesterday where a flock still have their full coats on. Looking rather shaggy. If they shear them now, they'll hardly have enough time to grow enough for Winter warmth, will they?
 
Hen-Gen said:
I like to think that I know a bit about sheep but someone asked me why rams are removed from the flock after mating. Why not leave them all together until mid summer?
Couldn't answer this one. Does anyone know?
Click to expand...

Some tups can get aggressive with the ewes and could hurt young lambs.

Also if you are feeding ewes the tups do not need the same rations
 
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