[Jacob-list] ram lambs

[Neal and Louise Grose]

Somewhere I recall a theory (but don't remember where) that nature tended to favor higher proportion of ewe lambs where the flock is small, and more ram lambs as the flock increases in size. That would be valid in our flock in years past, and makes some sense in an evolutionary way. There is some difference in the 'male' and 'female' sperm in relative vitality in certain situations. (Like frequency of "use".)

Neal Grose
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Betty Berlenbach 
  To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
  Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2004 7:09 AM
  Subject: [Jacob-list] ram lambs


  Nope!  I've never had a year with more ram lambs than ewe lambs.  I think it's due to the acidity of the soil, though some experts laugh at me.  LEt 'em laugh!  Once, I had equal numbers, but generally, my ewe lambs far outnumber ram lambs. I have noticed that with different rams, there are consistently more daughters than sons, so maybe I just lucked out in rams a few times!  (Watch, this year, for the first time in 9 years, I'll have all ram lambs.  Knock on wood, no!) Betty in Vermont.
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