[Jacob-list] wethering adult rams/ PS

[Linda]

Thanks, Cheryl. Was Franklin one of them? If I'm remembering correctly, isn't he pictured on the JSBA website member listing page being shown by a young girl?

I don't have any plans to wether either of my rams, but was just wondering.

Linda



> Hi Linda,

>

> A couple of years ago, we elected to wether 2 adult rams. Both were

> excellent fleece producers and had wonderful, quiet temperaments.

> Although we never totally 'befriended' either of these fellows,

> both were also quite people oriented and curious. Both were halter

> trained and quite willing to be led easily and without struggles.

> We chose to wether simply b/c of our total overall ram population,

> the concentration of this certain line (they were father and son)

> within the flock and an unwillingness to part with both for

> butchering. The rams were 4 and 5 years old and had been used for

> more than one breeding season. Eventually, I did place the oldest

> ram in a pet wether/spinners flock home in VA, where he still

> resides to this day. He is quite spoiled these days, hand fed,

> petted and is a real people sheep. :)

>

> It was a veterinary procedure (open castration, much like a horse)

> in which I opted to have a light general anethesia given. Once the

> procedure was complete, we administered an injectable antibiotic as

> well as tetanus antitoxin. Both rams were on their feet within 10

> minutes following the castration. We chose to keep both rams penned

> in the barn for the remainder of the day on deep, straw bedding to

> avoid as much contamination as possible in a barn setting. The

> following day, they returned to their ram group but also had access

> to a small outdoor shelter, in which we also placed that soft straw

> bedding. They used it for one more day and then hung out with the

> rest of the rams on the open ground.

>

> We chose to castrate on a cool spring morning where dry weather was

> forecast for a few days. We wanted to avoid damp or wet ground

> should they choose to lay outdoors more than in their hutch with

> straw. We also checked to make sure the temps were no where near

> warm enough for flies to be out, thus avoiding the possibility of

> fly strike (maggots).  For the record, some vets with spray the

> area with a topical antiseptic spray for a few days and/or a spray 

> that prevents fly strike. We did not utilize either product and

> were quick to return them to their ram group so they could get some

> exercise and avoid much swelling of the surgical area.

>

> As for temperament, because my fellows were already laid back in

> their attitudes, we did not see much change in their behavior. They

> did, however, seem much more tolerant of introduction of younger

> rams and, of course, did not participate in the usual establishment

> of "who is top dog" mounting behaviors after the first few months.

> Both were already pretty people oriented, which did not change. I

> have done banding castations on the farm on other older lambs (like

> 3-4 months) of age simply to reduce overall ram numbers but also to

> provide a buddy wether for ram being purchased. On one occasion, we

> had a pretty friendly wether at birth become a real flighty fellow

> following wethering at 3 1/2 months of age - not sure why it

> happened but that was a one time deal, thus far.

>

> Hope our experiences shared here may help you in some small way -

> good luck! :)

>

>

> Cheryl in WV

> http://paintedrockfarm.blogspot.com

>

> WHEN EVERYTHING THAT CAN BE SHAKEN IS SHAKEN, THE ANCHOR THAT HOLDS

> IS THE WISDOM OF THE CROSS. (Jason Upton, Key of David Ministries,

> from the CD 1200 ft below sea level)

>

> If you want to see God's power at work, you must get out of the

> church and into the world. Watch the extravagant lengths which God

> will go to reveal Himself to people who don't know Him. Then you

> will learn how truly awesome our God is. (Author Unknown)

>

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Linda <patchworkfibers at alltel.net>

> To: Jacob-list <Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>

> Sent: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 6:45 am

> Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] wethering adult rams/ PS

>

> I am interested in comments related to disposition. I know it's a

> job for the vet :-)

>

> Linda

>

>

>> Anyone ever wethered an adult ram after he'd been bred? If so,

>> comments, please.

>>

>> Thanks,

>> Linda

>>

>> http://www.patchworkfibers.com

>> Registered Jacob Sheep, Handspun Yarn  

>  

> http://www.patchworkfibers.com

> Registered Jacob Sheep, Handspun Yarn  

>

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