Rams in after sponge removal - 36 or 48 hours?

foobar

Member
Location
South Wales
How long after sponge removal should the rams go in? The instructions say 48 hours but I've read other people say 36 hours - which is best? Does it differ if the recipients are ewe-lambs?

If it makes any difference, I will be hand mating individually initially, then chucking the ram and his girls into the field together. I'm not using PMSG.
 

Longlowdog

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Aberdeenshire
I have this year due to pressures of work put ewes straight out, put ewes out after 18 and 24 hours and to be honest I've thought it was all over by 48 hours. I may be making a massive mistake doing this but needs must when there is off-farm paid work to be done. I'll see if I've cocked it up when the next cycle comes around.
 

elmo

Member
Location
West Wales
Agree, put them in before 48hrs, I have done the 48hr in the past with a few ewes not served, since then rams go in earlier and haven't had any missed since.
 

crazy_bull

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Huntingdon
I always thought not to put in straight away otherwise when the first few ewes come on the boys get spent by nailing the same ones over and over again, leaving the later ones to have a rather diluted dose.

C B
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Certainly if you're hand mating, start at 36 hours. The only reason to hold off, would be to avoid the ram emptying himself out in the first ewe in heat (more likely in young Rams). If hand mating, that's not going to be a problem anyway.
 

Joe

Member
Location
Carlow Ireland
I have this year due to pressures of work put ewes straight out, put ewes out after 18 and 24 hours and to be honest I've thought it was all over by 48 hours. I may be making a massive mistake doing this but needs must when there is off-farm paid work to be done. I'll see if I've cocked it up when the next cycle comes around.

I put them out last year straight after sponge removal as was heading away for few days, no difference I saw.
 

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