I need help making a decision quick...

[marliah]

I have posted a few times here any many of you have been very helpful. I was sold a ram that ended up being a wether and not the breed I was told. Then on top of it appears to have wool lice, which we are currently treating with diatomaceous earth and neem oil. Well out of the blue today the guy who sold him to me called to tell me he had bought a ewe lamb on auction (the sister of my ewe lamb) a shetland cross (I love m little girl who is a sister to this one he has). He wanted to sell her to us but we are not looking for anymore sheep so my husband said no thanks. Chuckling I said to my husband, call him back and tell him we will trade him the ram for the lamb. And they guy said he would. My husband told him he is pretty sure this "ram" is not a ram and they guy said "yes he is a blind ram but is still functional"

So now I am questioning getting rid of him. Would I be crazy to keep this ram when I am being offered a nice ewe lamb for him? We simply cannot afford a ram now, so if we keep him we are left with a possible breeding ram, if we sell him we for sure will not be breeding for the forseeable future. Also I have grown rather attached to this silly animal

Thoughts? and is a blind ram a cryptorchid or a failed wethering?

Please help me make a decision here.

Thanks all!

 

[ksalvagno]

The guy is buying sheep at auction. I wouldn't be trusting anything he says. I would do the trade and end up with 2 females.

 

[marliah]

yes he is getting them at auction. If I hadn't already bought the supposed sister of the one he is talking to me about now I wouldn't even consider doing business with him...but the fact that he would trade a ewe for this lice infested "ram" as he calls it has me wondering. Why would he be willing to trade like that....I'm wondering if the lamb is bad off or something....I probably should trade but I am reluctant to with the possibility of being able to breed with the one I have...I don't want to end up with deformed offspring though.

 

[Bossroo]

Tell him to drop everything and open his gate as you are bringing that "ram" in 37 seconds flat to exchange for the ewe lamb. Just watch out for traffic speed traps along the way !

 

[carolinagirl]

I'd take that trade in a second. If the ram is cryptorchid, that can be genetic and you don't want to pass those traits on anyway. I don't trust your seller AT ALL (and I am sure you don't either), but since the ewe is probably worth more than the ram is, I'd take her.

 

[doxiemoxie]

I'd give the new ewe a good once-over before agreeing to the trade and then NEVER do business with this guy again. a blind ram! no way!

Tell him to drop everything and open his gate as you are bringing that "ram" in 37 seconds flat to exchange for the ewe lamb. Just watch out for traffic speed traps along the way !

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Definitely do the trade, but before you take the ewe home check her out! Look at her teeth, look at her eyes, make sure she has correct teat structure, etc. Look down in her wool and see if you can see any lice or anything weird. Make sure you thoroughly check her out, and DO NOT worry about hurting his feelings or offending him. He's a moron or very sly and is lying to your face about the ram. Nobody in their right mind would intentionally sell a "blind" ram (as he calls it) as a respectable breeding ram.

 

[marliah]

Well I asked again and what I was told is the people who had this "ram" tried to wether it and botched it so he is half there (hence what I found when I went to check him out, I was pretty sure he had one testicle there) so would he be able to reproduce? I am weighing wool only sheep here (with 4 ewes if I trade) or a possiblity of 3 wool sheep and meat offspring....such a hard decision. :/

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Do you mean you're considering keeping him to breed wool/meat cross? He's definitely does not look like a good candidate to breed for meat. And it costs the same amount to feed a good sheep as a crappy one, so I would definitely trade him ASAP! If you don't want another ewe and would really rather have another ram, then tell the guy you'll sell him back for the same amount you bought him for. OR, trade him for the ewe, then sell one of the ewes and use that money to buy a ram.

 

[rockdoveranch]

I would not keep the ram. Not sure about the trade because the guy sounds untrustworthy. If I wanted a ram for breeding I would make sure he is intact.

I used to think horse trading was a risky business. I am beginning to think the sheep trading business can be risky too!