Rams are crucial to sheep breeding enterprises. The performance of your rams will determine when and how many of your ewes get in lamb.
The rams need to be ready, willing and able to work from the day they are joined with the ewes, as large numbers of early lambs are optimal. That said, it is important to ensure that rams are free from any known disease or defects of the genitalia likely to reduce, or nullify a ram's performance.
Sperm production in the ram takes 8 weeks, so all sperm present at mating has developed prior to the mating period. For this reason, rams should be checked and treated 10 weeks prior to mating each and every year.
Common issues that should be checked annually:
Testicular defects: small, undescended, single testes; abscesses; atrophy (shrinking); degeneration and epididymitis (inflammation of the tubes through which the semen is transported) can only be detected through palpation. Epididymitis can be caused by Brucella ovis or other bacteria. All of these conditions can severely reduce sperm numbers and vitality.
Scrotal (chorioptic) mange: this thickens the scrotal skin, raising testicular temperature which can significantly reduce the number and viability of sperm. Rams with significant scrotal mange can be considered temporarily to permanently unsound and may need to be replaced. Mild to moderate mange will need to be treated immediately.
General illness: footrot and other causes of lameness can markedly reduce feed intake and hence sperm production. Fever or stress (from any cause) may also reduce sperm quality and/or quantity. At this time of year it is also important to keep an eye out for flystrike which can really knock sheep around.
Wounds: shearing wounds around the pizzle or scrotum can severely affect performance. Rams should be shorn at least 8 weeks prior to tupping to allow time for any wounds to heal. It is important that rams are shorn or at least crutched as a woolly scrotum can also increase testicular temperature, reducing sperm viability.
Any rams identified as "temporarily unsound" should be rechecked prior to introduction. Permanently unsound rams should be replaced - for this reason, getting rams checked 10 weeks before tupping gives you plenty of time to source replacements.
Please contact the team at Totally Vets with any other questions about how to best ensure a good lambing outcome on your farm.
