[Jacob-list] wethering ram lambs

[gordon johnston]

Hi Greg

I know that the situation is different in the States, but here in Britain if
we are using a band to wether ram lambs we must do so in the first 7 days
after birth.  If the lamb is healthy, we usually do it on the second or
third day, when they barely notice the procedure.  If the lamb is sickly or
the weather is wet then we would wait until conditions are ideal.  Here, we
band before flies are around, but if they are already on the prowl in your
area you must avoid them noticing the procedure or spray the area with
something like Crovect - local listers will give you better advice there.

It is unlikely that the testicles have not descended, it's just that they
are very mobile and pop back up when you approach them with a view to
removing them (hardly surprising really !).  If you have not applied a band
before it is advisable to get someone to show you how to do it as each of
your hands has to do at least two jobs each, unless you have someone to
assist .  You might think the testicles are tiny, but compared to a smaller
sheep such as a Soay, they are huge !!

Practice using the band applicator on something other than a live lamb until
you are confident about releasing it correctly.  It works better to have the
spiky bits pointing away from the body so that you pull the applicator
towards the lambs body to release the band - not the obvious way.

Trick one is to persuade the testicles to remain in the sac until the band
is on - this is achieved by holding the lamb by its front legs, facing away
from you, with his back along the front of your body , legs dangling, and
pushing down just above the testes  with two fingers of your non-dominant
hand, which double up by covering the teats which you must avoid trapping in
the band. Even if you think you have both testes down, half the time one
jumps back up just as the band is released - so always have a Swiss Army
knife with scissors or similar to hand to remove it immediately.  They are
more likely to pop up if you are taking a long time to do the job, so if you
get it wrong twice, give up and try again tomorrow.  Also, if you have had
to chase the lamb to catch him, give him a while to quieten down before
expecting his testicles to be nice and relaxed just hanging there ready to
be nipped !

Once you have got the band on, check carefully that both testes are in the
sac, below the band  - if you're not sure check for bumps in the abdomen.
If you get it wrong you will have a rigg who just might sire a lamb .......
With your larger lambs, it should be a doddle.

What you are aiming for is to have your equipment ready, applicator loaded ;
pick up the lamb, swing him into position , place your fingers over the
teats and press down, position and release the applicator, check both testes
are in the sac, pop the lamb back down with his mother - all in one fluid
movement !

Good luck !
Juliet in Scotland