[Jacob-list] Re: Jacob-list Digest, Vol 14, Issue 10 ram shield

[Victoria da Roza]

We had a ram shield for 2 years with our ram.  You
will have to adapt it cause even with the "small
breeds" one it did not fit.  It does make some
difference the first year if you can get it adapted
correctly for head on crashes.  We only used part of
the year but still found that he learned how to turn
his head slightly and run sort of crooked so he could
see around the shield.  Maybe you will be a better
adapter than we were.
   Another problem is that the adjustment for the ram
lamb used for breeding does not go around the adult
horns the next year.  These were developed definitely
for the nonhorned sheep.
   What we found that did work year round was giving
the ram and a wether a long, narrow run across the
back of the property so they were seperate from the
ewes but could still run along side and disperse some
of the energy they have.  That also cut down on the
destructiveness of the ram cause he was not building
up energy in a small space.  We found that it only
needed to be 7 ft. wide and I think 100 ft. long
(probably not needed to be that long).  When we needed
to do something with the ram we trained him to stand
up on the panel and then we would snap a rope around
his collar and he could be handled by 2 different
lines and never have a chance to charge anyone.  We
are both handicapped and need to be super careful and
this system of movable panels works like a dream.  We
used to wear hocky leg shields in to do things with
the ram but still got bruised with the impact if he
would charge.
   The ram shield is just a piece of leather with
adjustable straps so maybe you could get a shoemaker
or some kind of leather person to make something if
you designed it that would fit a Jacob.  Then we all
could buy one from you ;-).  Just remember it must not
touch the eye in any way.  Victoria

--- jacob-list-request at jacobsheep.com wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
> 
>    1. Happy Holidays! (Mary Hansson)
>    2. Re: suitability of wethers as pets? (Mary
> Hansson)
>    3. ram shields (Ron Shaffer)
>    4. Scur referendum (Neal and Louise Grose)
>    5. Whether the wether? (ARTHUR PARTRIDGE)
>    6. scurs in sheep (gordon johnston)
>    7. Re: Whether the wether? (Steve and Trish
> Barrows)
> 
> 
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 03:36:33 -0800 (PST)
> From: Mary Hansson <buffgeese at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [Jacob-list] Happy Holidays!
> To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
> Message-ID:
>
<20051224113633.37092.qmail at web36503.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
>   Hi everyone.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
> to All.
>    
>   I want to thank everybody who helped reduce the
> size of my flock of breeding Jacobs.  
>    
>   When I finished loading the trailer Wednesday
> evening, I turned around to see 4 faces staring back
> at me (Bliss, Heather, Irma, and Maybelline).  They
> have 3 Shetland friends to mill around with this
> winter.  With a trip to the butcher in January, the
> problem of the boys will pretty well be resolved.
>    
>   To everything, there is a time and a season....
> 
>   Mary Ellen
> 
> 
> 
> Mary Ellen Hansson, MEd, RD, LDN
> ISeeSpots Farm
> Jacob Sheep:  Lambs, adults, wool
> www.iseespots.com
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> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 03:39:25 -0800 (PST)
> From: Mary Hansson <buffgeese at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] suitability of wethers as
> pets?
> To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
> Message-ID:
>
<20051224113925.6842.qmail at web36507.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
> Juliet,
>    
>   I have found that wethers learn what they live....
>  If they are companion to a rotten-natured ram who
> is pushy and bossy, they become very similar to him
> in nature and are more of a problem when putting
> back in with the girls as well as just navigating
> around in the feed area.  If they grow up and live
> their lives with the girls (and aren't pushed around
> during breeding season too much), they seem to be no
> different than the girls.
>    
>   Mary Ellen
> 
> gordon johnston <gordon at westergladstone.fsnet.co.uk>
> wrote:
>           <<< do these guys pose a threat to the
> unwary shepherd?>>>
>    
>   We have found mature wethers to be great
> companions and they do not tend to have any other
> agenda than to eat and hang out.  However, as Linda
> points out, they must be fully castrated (check
> there are two testicles in the ring before you let
> the lamb go - if not, remove the ring with sharp
> scissors and try again).  I wonder if animals
> castrated after they have developed their male
> characteristics would be as docile ?  Shouldn't
> think so.  Another consideration is that wethers
> grow bigger than ewes - not so hard to manhandle as
> a ram as they don't have the head gear, but still
> heavy - go easy on the treats !  Wethers are great
> for producing excellent quality fleece as they do
> not have the stresses that both ewes and rams can
> have.  Eventually, if they have not become too
> dearly beloved, they can be turned into mutton,
> which on this side of the Pond at least, is fast
> becoming THE fashion food.
>    
>   Season's Greetings
>   Juliet in Scotland
> _______________________________________________
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>   
> 
> 
> 
> Mary Ellen Hansson, MEd, RD, LDN
> ISeeSpots Farm
> Jacob Sheep:  Lambs, adults, wool
> www.iseespots.com
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> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 07:52:01 -0500
> From: "Ron Shaffer" <rshaffer1959 at msn.com>
> Subject: [Jacob-list] ram shields
> To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
> Message-ID:
> <BAY102-F27FD1D999EC42EEE256808DE320 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
> 
> Does anyone have experience with sheilds for rams so
> that they don't ram.  
> We are planning on getting guard llamas next month
> and were wondering about 
> using those shields to prevent the rams from ramming
> into the 
> llamas.\Cynthia
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 

> 
=== message truncated ===


Victoria
Castle Rock Farm
Jacob Sheep & Nigerian Dwarf Goats
www.castlerockfarm.net


		
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