Sheep are domesticated animals, usually bred for their fleece, meat and milk.
Hundreds of different breeds exist, and they are considered one of the most important of all farm animals, with an estimated one billion in existence today.
A ram is a male sheep, sometimes known as a buck, and a young ram is called a ram lamb.
In some parts of the world, especially Great Britain, the ram is called Tup, which means that the mating season is called the tuping season.
The ram is usually taller and heavier than the ewe, which is the name for a female sheep.
Other names for sheep, dictated by the age or sex of the animal, include wethers, which are castrated males.
There are also yearlings, which are sheep between the ages of 1 and 2 that have not given birth to young.
Sheep can be kept in a house for self-sufficiency.
Some can be bred as pets and companions, but the typical use of domesticated sheep is for large-scale agriculture.
Image credit: Left – haidar-alkhayat, Pixabay | Right – AlanFrijns, Pixabay
Ram
Other pet-friendly: No
Other pet-friendly: Usually
Trainability: Intelligent with good memory and recognition
Trainability: Intelligent with good memory and recognition
Ram overview
Image from: Pixabay
The ram is a male sheep, aged 12 months or more.
A farmer needs both ewes and rams if they want to raise lambs for meat, or if they want to extract milk from the sheep.
Rams can also be kept as stud rams, whereby their semen is sold to farmers and breeders or they are encouraged to impregnate ewes.
Stud rams need to produce sperm and those with a high production earn more.
On average, a farmer keeps one ram for every 100 sheep in his flock, although this ratio can vary between 1:50 and 1:150.
Rams are known to be feisty.
They can be aggressive, especially when it is mating season and they are around the shoulders that are in heat.
They will fight with other rams for the right to mate, and if they feel threatened, a ram can turn on a person, dog or any other animals or visitors to the farm.
A ram can also attack people or things they see as a threat and/or with their claws.
As a bit of a giveaway from the name, you should always expect some amount of ramming.
The male sheep is known for this behavior, and it is natural.
It is difficult to train this behavior out of a ram because it is an instinct.
Make sure you spend time around your ram, but you should avoid trying to turn him into a pet.
Whether you want to breed to increase the size of your flock, sell lambs or for any other purpose, you need a fertile ram.
Make sure your rams have good nutrition and be sure to provide them with a high energy diet before the breeding season.
Can two Rams live together?
Rams can live together, but it depends on the individuals in question.
If you keep a ram, it is recommended to keep another one, but this usually takes the form of a castrated ram called a wether.
Rams are suitable for any sheep owner or breeder who wants to breed their sheep.
You need one ram for every 30 to 150 eggs, depending on the libido, performance and age of the rams.
Alternatively, the rams can be kept for stud and offered to local ewes.
Sheep overview
A ram is a male sheep over 12 months of age, while any sheep under 12 months is called a lamb.
Female sheep are called ewes, and these make up the majority of a flock, in most cases.
There are about 1 billion sheep in the world today, and these are bred and raised for their wool, their meat and their milk.
Some sheep are also kept for shows and exhibitions, and these can cost a lot of money to buy and collect.
Sheep are generally considered friendly and gentle animals.
They are herd animals, which means they do better in a group than alone.
As such, they get along with other sheep and can get along with, or at least tolerate, other animal species.
When raised from a young age, and especially when bottle-fed, sheep can also form a close bond with their owner.
They form close bonds with other sheep and can even stand up for one another in a fight or confrontation.
Flock start
Starting your own flock can mark a positive step towards self-sufficiency, and a large farm can make a handsome profit.
Sheep are herd animals, which means they do better in groups.
Start with a flock of at least five sheep.
You can combine your new flock with other animals, such as alpacas and goats, but they need the companionship of other sheep to really develop.
A flock of five sheep requires about one hectare of land, although this depends on factors such as grass quality and parasite risks.
When you introduce a ram into your flock, you need a wether that lives with your main ram to keep him company.
Choose a breed
There are hundreds of breeds and hybrids of sheep available.
Do you want to preserve your pastures, or are you looking to sell or use fleece?
Hoping to increase the size of your herd quickly?
You can also consider factors such as whether a particular breed is good with children or lives well in cold conditions.
Image credit: Pixabay
Image credit: Pixabay
Image credit: Pixabay
Image credit: Pixabay
Image credit: Pixabay
Care for your flock
Once you have stocked your flock, you need to make sure they are well cared for.
Ewes receive grain for 3 weeks after lambing to ensure that she has adequate nutrition during this phase.
Many new farmers find that their soil and crops are lacking in selenium and you need to supplement this to ensure that your flock and all your sheep are healthy.
Even if the sheep do not like to be closed in a barn, they need some protection from the rain and wind in the winter, and the sun in the summer.
Sheep are good for new, existing and experienced farmers.
A starter flock usually consists of between five and 10 sheep.
Any less than this and the sheep will not have enough companionship.
You can combine ewes with a ram, although it is customary to keep the ewes and ewes apart, which means you need a second, castrated ram, called a ram, to live with your main stock.
A flock of sheep takes commitment and requires daily work, so you need to make sure you are committed to the idea before starting your flock.
Which breed is right for you?
A sheep is a domesticated farm animal that is bred for its fleece and meat, as well as its milk.
You can also stand out the ram to make money.
A small flock of sheep consisting of a dozen or so animals may prove sufficient for you to live on, but it will require careful management, especially if you wish to keep a ram yourself, rather than using the services of a local stud ram .
You will need some land, with one hectare considered the absolute minimum for a small herd, and large flocks requiring hundreds of hectares to graze and live on.
Choose sheep breeds and numbers according to your purpose of owning them and whether you breed them for their fleece, their meat or for showing in exhibitions.
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Dorper sheep