Ponker
Loving the herd life
My ram, Holstien was out to a friend to breed five of his sheep. Well, Holstein ended up with foot scald pretty bad from a muddy nighttime holding area near the barn. When I found him in such a condition we took him home to treat. He was the incredibly gentle ram I remember until his feet healed. Then he became a holy terror. He jumped out of the new stall in the barn and taught the new LGD (still a 12 week old pup) a lesson in respect. When I came in the morning, he was walking around inspecting the rabbits munching on some alfalfa. It was at that moment, I decided to put him back in with my other three sheep, two Katahdin crosses (BettyLou and Spots)and a young Finnsheep ewe (Athena). They did the normal head butting things and then calmed down. Then Holstein began trying to breed my very pregnant ewe, BettyLou. BettyLou is the big bossy ewe of the yard, but a sweetheart who loves scratches and hugs. He chases her and curled his lip and mounted her while she ran frantically around the small pen where I did the re-introduction. I became concerned and removed him to the barn again. BettyLou and the rest of the girls had high anxiety and were very nervous. After a couple of hours without Holstein they calmed down again.
I'm so surprised that he insisted on trying to breed her. He was panting and had his tongue hanging out. His sides heaved and poor BettyLou had rolling eyes and ran for the first time in a year, I bet. It was disturbing. I thought he'd quit after he established dominance but he just went on and on. it made me wonder if maybe BettyLou wasn't pregnant but then I look at her. She and Spots were bred to a fine Katahdin ram before I bought them. I did see the Ram and he was a fine specimen. She looks pregnant, just like Spots.
Anyone can shed some light on this for me? How am I going to manage this? Will I have to keep him separated from my pregnant ewes?
I'm so surprised that he insisted on trying to breed her. He was panting and had his tongue hanging out. His sides heaved and poor BettyLou had rolling eyes and ran for the first time in a year, I bet. It was disturbing. I thought he'd quit after he established dominance but he just went on and on. it made me wonder if maybe BettyLou wasn't pregnant but then I look at her. She and Spots were bred to a fine Katahdin ram before I bought them. I did see the Ram and he was a fine specimen. She looks pregnant, just like Spots.
Anyone can shed some light on this for me? How am I going to manage this? Will I have to keep him separated from my pregnant ewes?