The Ram Effect : any experiences?

[boykin2010]

I am planning on trying this method this breeding season. It's where you keep ewes totally separated from rams by a certain distance for a whilte and then when you introduce the ram it stimulates the ewes to release eggs. This website kind of explains it better. http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/sheep/8527.html

I have been told by several breeders that this was true and they use it themselves. It basically increases lamb yields. It makes sense to me so I am willing to try it.

I was wondering if anyone else has tried this and what the outcome was like??? I am excited to try something new

 

[aggieterpkatie]

We did that on a farm where I used to work. Worked great, and we were usually able to get lambing times pretty close.

 

[boykin2010]

Hmmm.... Good to know. The breeders I have talked to swore by it so I am willing to try it. I am getting rid of my ram lambs tomorrow so it says 6 weeks then re-introduce a ram. Which would be August 18th. That means lambs mid-January...

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I'm going to try to shoot for lambs in January as well. I'd rather get it over with early! Plus, our fairs are in August, so if I want to sell market lambs they have to be born early!

 

[boykin2010]

I agree! This year I was still lambing into March. Then those ram lambs that were born are too small right now to be good meat sheep and the ewe lambs are a little small to breed in August. Was not very happy with that. Hopefully I will have lots of lambs this year when I try this method. I bought some really good registered RR Katahdin ewes from a breeder and they are older 6+ years so I am hoping for triplet ewe lambs out of all of them...

 

[shawnfisher]

certain sheep- will not respond to anything-- not even hormones.

a good old fashioned deworming, coupled with flushing-- works the best.

The ram effect works good, but you're going to need serious distance, like 1/4 mile to actually do any good, and you'll need the weather to cooperate.

i leave my rams in year round, and my ewes lamb year round... in a breed not known for out of season breeding.

 

[boykin2010]

Well I don't have any male sheep on my property starting tomorrow. I am planning on flushing the ewes also. I tried it last year but didn't see the results I was expecting.

How long do all of you suggest you should flush the ewes? I think last year I did it for 3 weeks before adding the ram. Should it have been longer? Should I keep doing it after I put the ram in for a while?

 

[shawnfisher]

today while working ewes and goats-- give vac and deworming--- I had a thought that inspired me to come back to here to share thoughts.

I know of many operations which use a billy goat as the teaser rame on the ram effect deal. They claim they can even get non-responding, out of season ewes to lamb in the fall with a good aggressive smelly billy...

worth a try I guess..

 

[BrownSheep]

How far apart do the rames and ewes need to be? Our are probably 1/2 mle apart

 

[boykin2010]

I had a question as I was thinking today. Internet says keep rams away from ewes for 6 weeks. Does that mean once the six weeks are up you automatically put the ram in with the ewes? Or, do you put the ram beside the ewes after the 6 weeks and wait 14 days for the ewes to cycle then put the ram in with them.