Sponging or teaser ram?

[Kyle4697]

I know its early but planning ahead this year I'm considering AI'ing some of my pure sheep this year and possibly hand mating the cross ewes I have, I obviously want them to all lamb around the same time and wondered if anyone has any expierence on this and if it's better sponging or using a teaser? I have a tup born last year that I was thinking about getting made into a teaser anyway. Any help and peoples expierences is appreciated, thanks?

 

[MDL POWERUP]

Sponging is good for a very condensed lambing, more so than teasers. Negative is that is around a fiver a head per ewe if sponging out of season (pmsg needed) or 2.50 in season for just the sponge. More ram power also needed 1:10 ratio.

 

[Longlowdog]

If you want to A.I then you need to know exactly when they are cycling so that means sponging following the A.I programme. Sponged ewes will lamb over a 10 day period from 5 days early to 5 late. Teased ewes that have been well removed from male hormones will still lamb over 1 cycle plus 10 days.
You could however pull the teaser from your crosses and swap in a tup to coincide with the sponged pedigree ewes it just takes a bit of management and it sure won't be a 10 day lambing.
If you are considering a teaser he needs doing now. It's at least 8 weeks before his wee soldiers stop marching forth.
Remember fresh semen can go in by cervical A.I but if you're buying frozen it is a whole different ball game with vets and drugs and is only done by intrauterine A.I. which is a surgical procedure usually beyond the scope of your regular vets and performed by bands of travelling cowboys vets.