Can a RAM live by itself?

Many small flock owners have just one ram, which needs to be separated at some point. However, sheep are not creatures that should be living alone. They need company.

Can a ram be a pet?

Intact males (rams) are not recommended as pets. Rams get larger and usually become aggressive, especially during the rut (breeding season). Naturally polled (hornless) animals are also advised. While many sheep are polled, there are some breeds in which males and sometimes females can carry horns.

How long does it take for a ram to reproduce?

A ram with good-quality semen, adequate testicular size, and good libido can breed 100 ewes in a 17-day breeding season. Most producers in North America, however, use 3 to 3.5 rams per 100 ewes.

Can a ram breed with 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.

What do you feed rams?

While pasture or hay is the best feed for rams in the off season, larger-framed rams or those that need to gain weight will need to receive supplemental feed. Critical to the ram's fertility and breeding success is a proper mineral and vitamin supplement that provides the key nutrients: zinc, selenium and vitamin E.

Should You Get a Ram for Your Sheep Flock?

How long can a ram live?

Sheep Breed Can Determine Lifespan

Lamb are baby sheep less than one year old. They grow to be sheep (rams or ewes) with a lifespan of 10 – 12 years.

How long does a ram stay with sheep?

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.

How many sheep do you need for one ram?

Ewe:Ram Ratio

A mature ram to 45 ewes (up to 70 ewes more active ram breeds) A ram lamb should be joined with a smaller number of ewes in a ratio closer to 1 to 25 (up to 40 for more active ram breeds)

How many rams do you need for 100 ewes?

Place one ram or group of rams with the ewes for one day (or night). Replace rams with another ram or group while you rest and feed the first ones. Two aggressive rams can be used on 100 ewes. For hand breeding, place the ewe in heat with the ram for breeding one time and then remove her.

Are rams hard to maintain?

Tank Requirements

The electric blue ram is not recommended for beginners, but it is not overly difficult to keep either. One pair can be housed in a 20-gallon aquarium, while two pairs will require a tank of at least 40 gallons.

Are rams aggressive?

Regardless of an individual ram's behavior, it is important to remember that all rams are aggressive or have the potential to be aggressive, even if they appear “friendly”.

Are rams hard to keep?

German Blue Ram fish are relatively easy to care for, making them a good choice for beginner aquarium owners. They are also peaceful fish that do well in community tanks. German Blue Ram fish require a tank with plenty of open space for swimming, as well as some hiding places.

What temperature do rams like?

Most beginners aren't aware that the most critical component of their husbandry involves keeping blue rams at high temperatures, ideally between 84-86°F (29-30°C).

Can you keep two rams together?

If you plan to keep more than 1 ram on your farm at a time and don't want to or don't have room to keep them in separate areas, you will need to introduce them in a small pen or stall – like a lambing jug (stall). When rams fight for dominance, they back up, then run and headbutt (or ram) each other.

Can sheep live on grass alone?

So sheep have evolved to live on plant material and, even in domestic situations where we may require higher levels of production than from a wild sheep, for some of the year, your sheep will be able to live quite happily on grass.

Can a ram mate its mother?

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). Sheep are seasonally polyoestrus animals.

Will a ram try to breed a goat?

You can wind up with a sheep-goat hybrid

Only a ram can get a doe pregnant, not the other way around. Most of those pregnancies result in a miscarriage or stillbirth.

How many babies do rams have?

Rams produce 100's of 1000's of sperm, more than enough to produce sextuplets every time, but they don't because it's not up to them. Twins, triplets or quads are generally the result of multiple ovulation by the ewe.

Do rams regrow horns?

Horns have a full bone core and are covered in keratin, that is the same substance that makes up human fingernails. They start growing soon after the animal is born and grow across the animal's lifetime. If they are damaged or removed they do not grow back.

At what age do rams grow horns?

Unlike ungulates (deer and elk), bighorn sheep rams start growing their horns at birth and continue to grow their horns throughout their lifespan. They do not shed their horns like ungulates shed antlers. Instead, their horns grow until the animal dies.

How many times a day can a ram mate?

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 do you discipline a ram?

The best way to raise nonaggressive rams is to LEAVE THEM ALONE! Do not try to make friends with them, do not scratch or rub or push on their heads, do not tease them, do not treat them roughly, and do not play with them. LEAVE THEM ALONE!

Do rams like to be petted?

Our rams—for the most part—are very interested in what humans are doing. From birth on, rams tend to be friendlier than ewes. Most of our rams come eagerly to the fenceline to have their ears scratched or their chin rubbed.

What is a female ram called?

Male sheep are called rams, the females ewes, and immature animals lambs.

Can I leave a ram in with ewes all year round?

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.