shepherdO
Loving the herd life
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2018
- Messages
- 127
- Reaction score
- 129
- Points
- 106
- Location
- Okanagan area of British Columbia
Okay, so I need some help making a decision. I currently have a ram that I bought this fall for breeding. He's a nice Shropshire over Texel. Not huge, but nicely built, as far as I can tell (not an expert). He bred all my ewes (9) without a problem, and all took within the first cycle (all were marked, and none have accepted him since I've swtiched crayons - fingers crossed!)
Anyhoo, I've been very pleased with him. He's quite friendly - like a little Ewok, actually. no signs of aggression yet. He's not afraid at all, but also not pushy or anything - it's difficult to predict what this kind of temperament will grow into, I suppose...
So my question/dilemma is: should I keep him until next year, or sell him now and just buy a new ram for next year's breeding? I know typically you'd recycle a ram every 3 (?) years, so he's good for a couple more. However, I know that it can be a pain keeping rams and ewes separate; I don't want to have an aggressive animal (my 4 year old was already 'attacked' by my wether when she went into the sheep pen with a cousin, and needed an emergency visit - heartstopping, I'll tell out...).
At the same time, there's an obvious cost involved with purchasing a ram every year, a risk of introducing disease each time, the difficulty of finding a ram that 'fits', as well as the chance of getting an aggressive ram, etc.
So, help me weigh the pros and cons and make a decision! I have very good fences, so keeping him contained isn't really an issue, although of course with little kids around I'm always a little worried. If I sell him, it would be at the end of this current cycle to make sure all the ewes have caught.
What would you do? I may put him up and just see if there's interest. I guess if I can get back what I paid for him earlier in the fall, there's no loss to me, correct?
Thanks in advance!
Anyhoo, I've been very pleased with him. He's quite friendly - like a little Ewok, actually. no signs of aggression yet. He's not afraid at all, but also not pushy or anything - it's difficult to predict what this kind of temperament will grow into, I suppose...
So my question/dilemma is: should I keep him until next year, or sell him now and just buy a new ram for next year's breeding? I know typically you'd recycle a ram every 3 (?) years, so he's good for a couple more. However, I know that it can be a pain keeping rams and ewes separate; I don't want to have an aggressive animal (my 4 year old was already 'attacked' by my wether when she went into the sheep pen with a cousin, and needed an emergency visit - heartstopping, I'll tell out...).
At the same time, there's an obvious cost involved with purchasing a ram every year, a risk of introducing disease each time, the difficulty of finding a ram that 'fits', as well as the chance of getting an aggressive ram, etc.
So, help me weigh the pros and cons and make a decision! I have very good fences, so keeping him contained isn't really an issue, although of course with little kids around I'm always a little worried. If I sell him, it would be at the end of this current cycle to make sure all the ewes have caught.
What would you do? I may put him up and just see if there's interest. I guess if I can get back what I paid for him earlier in the fall, there's no loss to me, correct?
Thanks in advance!