[Jacob-list] lateral horn in new position

[Peg Bostwick]

Lasell -   I had the outer part of a horn "hanging" somewhat loose like that
on a half grown lamb once, and just left it.  It eventually fused in that
position, and then was too close to his jaw and I eventually had to trim it
a LOT.  I won't do that again.   I have had luck with SOME lambs in pulling
it back closer to the correct position, and taping it in place, with some
fairly heavy tape like duct tape.  Looks awful, but can hold it in place
until it grows back together.  We sort of figure-8 the tape around the upper
horns to hold it in place.   Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't.
Sometimes, the horn gets knocked loose again, or it just doesn't fuse.  But
it is worth a try and will at least keep it from fusing in the wrong
position.  You will have to leave it taped up  for quite awhile.  

Good luck.... Peg 

Peg Bostwick
peg at sweetgrass-jacobs.com
517-626-6981


-----Original Message-----
From: jacob-list-bounces at jacobsheep.com
[mailto:jacob-list-bounces at jacobsheep.com] On Behalf Of Lasell J. Bartlett
Sent: Monday, December 24, 2012 4:03 PM
To: Carl Fosbrink; Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] lateral horn in new position

Thank you, Carl. I should have taken a picture. There is a gap between the
outer horn and the head on the top of the lateral, and none at the bottom,
so it's off kilter. The core seems to be solidly attached - well, I would
have expected it to feel floppy loose like a scud if the core had been
detached. Plus, no blood. Does that make sense?

So, if left as is, it will grow and 'fuse' so to speak, in the current
position?

He is a young ram we used for breeding this year. I'd like to keep him at
least until his lambs are born to see what he added to the ewes he bred. He
is out with one other ram and about 20 ewes for the winter. 

Lasell

On Dec 24, 2012, at 3:39 PM, Carl Fosbrink <fourhornfarm at frontier.com>
wrote:


> Lassell,

> 

>     It sounds like both the outer horn and the horn core are both loose

since the horn is going a different direction. It is possible the outer horn
is broken loose from the core. Closer inspection would tell you which it is.
If the outer horn is broken loose from the core you might be able to turn it
slowly back to the original position and apply antibiotic to the area where
it is loose from the core and then isolate it from other sheep so it doesn't
get knocked around until it gets healed. If this ram is in a group of rams
you are likely to have this sort of thing happening now and then. I do not
know of much you can do if the core is loose. It might get solid after a
time, but is likely to get knocked off if there is blood next to the head.
If it is loose under the skin with no blood it is likely that it is broken
loose down where the horn attaches to the skull. If this is the case it will
probably not get solid again. When this happens to me I butcher the ram, but
you may want to save him even if he has one crooked or broken horn if he is
a great ram for breeding purposes. I bought a ram with a broken off lateral
horn because I thought he would make a great breeder because of his pedigree
and the fact that I saw a photo of him before the horn was broken off. The
ram I bought had been in a group of rams and got his horn broken off in a
fight which often happens when rams are kept in a group. Best of luck to you
with this problem and maybe others have another opinion. I'm sure many have
had broken horns.

> 

> 

> Carl in Indiana

> --------------------------------------------------

> From: "Lasell J. Bartlett" <lasell at lasell.org>

> Sent: Monday, December 24, 2012 3:04 PM

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

> Subject: [Jacob-list] lateral horn in new position

> 

>> I noticed that a young ram's right lateral horn was looking very

different and so I caught him up to check. It is a little loose, and appears
that the outer horn is what I would call dislodged from its original
position.

>> 

>> Is there anything I can or should do about this? Will the horn fuse 

>> and continue to grow in this new position? I hope it won't - I'd like 

>> to be able to do something to return its growth to the direction it 

>> was growing.

>> 

>> Thanks for your thoughts and advise. And Happy Holidays to everyone.

>> 

>> Lasell J Bartlett

>> lasell at lasell.org

>> 


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