Introducing existing rams to new ram

[brooklyn07]

We have 7 rams - all mature and have been with each other in the same field for a few years now. I have a pet ram from last year from another farmer that I didn't castrate and now I'd like to try him for breeding this year. He's been with some wethers since he was born but they've now gone and he can no longer stay in the field where he's been staying with his friends so I'm going to have to put him with the other rams.

He's a lot smaller than all the other rams and I'm worried if i introduce him to the others they will kill him as they are so much bigger than him.

I don't really know what else to do, there's only one field where I keep the rams so not like he can go on his own or with another ram somewhere.

I've heard that it helps if you pen them up for an hour or so and then let them be with each other but I'm still concerned that this won't be long enough and 7 against 1 won't end well.

Any suggestions anyone?

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

Pen them up tight so they can't get a run up on each other and leave them for several hours. They should be ok after that.

 

[Agrivator]

I would expect a smaller introduced ram to be accepted much more readily than a ram the same size as the hosts. Most folk would just put him in and take care not to get in the line of fire.

 

[neilo]

Pen them up tight so they can't get a run up on each other and leave them for several hours. They should be ok after that.

^this would be standard practice, leaving them penned for as long as may be needed to settle down, which may be several days IME.

They need to establish a pecking order, so just make sure they do it in a confined space where they can have a tussle but not cause any proper injuries.

If the young lad has been boss of his group of wethers, he might well think he can be boss of the big rams too, and they will need to show him that’s not the case.
Contrary to your fear of him getting killed, it is often the smaller ram that kills the larger one in a fight. He will come up and under in a head charge, breaking the bigger ram’s neck.

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

I would expect a smaller introduced ram to be accepted much more readily than a ram the same size as the hosts. Most folk would just put him in and take care not to get in the line of fire.

I would agree with this, one that is smaller is not seen as much of a theat so they won't be competing. Also depends on breed, some will be more aggressive than others. Our Beltex tups are generally to laid back to bother

 

[Nithsdale]

...it is often the smaller ram that kills the larger one in a fight. He will come up and under in a head charge, breaking the bigger ram’s neck.

Is that the real reason you're ending the Beltex trial - how many Chars did he conquer?

 

[neilo]

Is that the real reason you're ending the Beltex trial - how many Chars did he conquer?

A Beltex wouldn’t be able to get enough speed up to do damage to an athletic beasty like a Charollais.

 

[neilo]

I know it’s not relevant to the OP’s situation, but it’s never a problem in a big mob of rams, and I’d happily just turf them in.
There would be so many having a tussle at once that nothing gets a decent run up.

 

[AftonShepherd]

We don't generally tup ewes until November here, and it's probably only from September on that I'd be wary of mixing tups. They all seem to get on quite happily until the girls start smelling

 

[andybk]

overnight in a pen where they cant get back and get speed up usually ,then let out in bigger pen and keep an eye on them . lost 2 good rams last year after they were let out after a night together , broken shoulder in one, the other must have damaged his head , as he looked funny few days later and died ,

 

[Anymulewilldo]

^this would be standard practice, leaving them penned for as long as may be needed to settle down, which may be several days IME.

They need to establish a pecking order, so just make sure they do it in a confined space where they can have a tussle but not cause any proper injuries.

If the young lad has been boss of his group of wethers, he might well think he can be boss of the big rams too, and they will need to show him that’s not the case.
Contrary to your fear of him getting killed, it is often the smaller ram that kills the larger one in a fight. He will come up and under in a head charge, breaking the bigger ram’s neck.

this. Small tup nearly always wins. I’ve been known too have them penned up for a week before they settle. Let them out for 1/2 hour each end of the day too graze. Have too sit on quad watching in case they start getting fractious. Every now and then I have too run them through the dip then shut up tight if they are being REALLY stupid.

 

[Al R]

Any entire ram lambs around? Turn him in with them and the mature rams the same time, the more you add to the mix the easier they settle. As others have said though, smaller rams arnt usually an issue

 

[Mc115reed]

Am I the only one that just chucks tups in and out of fields and never has any trouble?

 

[Anymulewilldo]

I’ve a couple of tups here who would fight their own shadows given half a chance!!

 

[brooklyn07]

Thanks all - hes a texel and very mellow so hopefully they won't see him as much of a threat! there's no ewe's about anywhere near the rams so that should help aswell fingers crossed!

 

[neilo]

Am I the only one that just chucks tups in and out of fields and never has any trouble?

Am I right in thinking you run Texel rams? They generally aren’t mobile enough to get much of a run up, hence getting away with it…

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I’ve a couple of tups here who would fight their own shadows given half a chance!!

I remember a welsh ram continually taking a run up and headbutting a straining post!

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I think, as we are a while from the ewes cycling, so it should be ok to just put him in, and as AI R said put a few entire ram lambs in with them too to keep the heat off him

 

[Mc115reed]

Am I right in thinking you run Texel rams? They generally aren’t mobile enough to get much of a run up, hence getting away with it…

Texel… beltex and Suffolk rams… so yeah good point taken Suffolk probably got the most aggression but they’re generally either trying too die from stupidity or lame so not got too much spirit

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Am I right in thinking you run Texel rams? They generally aren’t mobile enough to get much of a run up, hence getting away with it…

Well that’s the gloves off…