Dorper/Blackbelly Ram -PICTURES!!

[Parsnip]

Just wanted to tell people about the exciting news!
There's a BIG possibility of me getting a ram to breed my two open yearling ewes.
I'm going to take a look at him Friday, and I'm super excited!
He's a Dorper/Blackbelly cross which means he has horns, but that's alright.
This ram is decent sized, and very handsome.
There is some of this ram's offspring at the guy's place as well, so that's great!
The ram is affordable for me, a college student which is a plus.
Almost too good to be true, so I'm going to take a good look at this ram.
AND I told the guy I'd be coming with a lot of questions haha

I'll have to take pictures when I go and check out the ram
If I decide to purchase him, it won't be until Spring Break, BUT always good to look at them beforehand.

 

[Womwotai]

Yay - look forward to hearing about the visit!

 

[bonbean01]

I'm looking forward to hearing about the visit too...and pictures!!!

 

[Goat Whisperer]

So exciting!!!!

 

[alsea1]

Cool. I'm looking forward to seeing him

 

[Parsnip]

Yes!
Tomorrow is the day!
I'll take pictures for sure and tell you guys what I think of him

 

[Parsnip]

ALRIGHT, I went to see the ram after school.
He's small than I thought he'd be, but that is okay.
The ram is shorter to the ground and quite stocky, well muscled.
Still pretty wooly from winter, but I got to feel under the ram's pelt while the guy held the ram down.
I also checked the ram's feet, and they look recently trimmed(which they were)
He needs worming, probably, but that's not a huge deal for me.
If I buy this ram, I'll be getting him next weekend, because there is someone else who wants the ram as well.
I WANT TO GET THERE FIRST.
The guy who owns him said this ram was born on the property in April 2012.
The sire of the ram was a Blackbelly ram, and the mother was a Dorper cross.
So from what he said, the ram is 50% BB, 37.5% Dorper, and 12.5% Katahdin.
As of now, I'm calling the ram, Buttercup. Buttercup will probably become Christmas dinner though heehee





This picture is of a ram lamb that was born in December.
The lamb is Buttercup's offspring.

 

[Womwotai]

How fun! So what are your plans for him? Use him as a breeder this year and then butcher by the sound of it? Is that more cost effective for you than using him as a breeder and then selling when you don't need him any more? It sounds like there are plenty of potential buyers….

 

[Parsnip]

We don't have a permanent set-up for him at the moment.
We've build a lean-to connected to the outside of the barn. I guess if I modified things, we could keep him for a while more. It's a good place for a single sheep, so it'd be good for him.
Sheltered, fresh air, straw and wood chips for bedding.
But as of right now, I plan to use him in April for these two ....

So that would give me September lambs (maybe)

I've been having thoughts to keep him around to breed Wendy and MaryEllen in August though.
And maybe Irene, if she's big enough in October.
It'd be more work on my part, but in theory, I could keep him until November or so.
Then sell, or butcher.
I'm going to wait and see how he does here first
Where I live there aren't a lot of people who regularly need rams. But we'll see.

 

[Womwotai]

I keep my ram in with the flock all the time. It makes it guesswork as to when lambs will arrive but so far that's the only downside I've found. And by keeping an eye on the ewes (vulva, udder etc) I've so far guessed it to within 12 hours of delivery so that's not too bad.