Tup Ewe Ratio for Tupping

[sjewart]

Trying something a little different this year. Taking sponges out 30 BFL ewes on same day this time.

How many shearling tups do I need to give them best chance of holding first time?

 

[MRT]

3

 

[sjewart]

3

So you think they'll tup 10 each?

 

[neilo]

So you think they'll tup 10 each?

They should do, if they are all active, fertile and know what goes where.

The risk with shearling tups, unless they have been worked naturally as lambs, is that they can sometimes take a while to work out what goes where, especially when suddenly confronted by a hoard of randy old ladies. If the ewes are all synchronised then they can be going off heat again by the time the poor wee fella has worked it out.

 

[sjewart]

They should do, if they are all active, fertile and know what goes where.

The risk with shearling tups, unless they have been worked naturally as lambs, is that they can sometimes take a while to work out what goes where, especially when suddenly confronted by a hoard of randy old ladies. If the ewes are all synchronised then they can be going off heat again by the time the poor wee fella has worked it out.

Apologies for the misleading info. One tup was born 2016 and the other 2018. We used both last year so they should know what they're doing as both have actually been tupping since lambs.

 

[MRT]

So you think they'll tup 10 each?

You are right to question my mathematical ability - but yes

 

[sjewart]

You are right to question my mathematical ability - but yes

Ah sorry [emoji23]

 

[neilo]

Apologies for the misleading info. One tup was born 2016 and the other 2018. We used both last year so they should know what they're doing as both have actually been tupping since lambs.

They should be fine with 1:10 then, assuming they aren’t subfertile (always a risk unless you’ve tested them). I always have a much lower conception rate when I tup groups like that though, compared to AI, even when all the ewes are covered in raddle mark. No idea why, but rarely get more than 50% with single sire mated groups of sponged ewes.

 

[Ysgythan]

1 - turn two in with him. After he serves one take her out and put another in. Turn him out with them at the end. Personally I’d split them into 2x15 and do over two days, but keep him away from them between the two batches. Should get 80% held.

 

[sjewart]

Thank you all [emoji3]

 

[neilo]

1 - turn two in with him. After he serves one take her out and put another in. Turn him out with them at the end. Personally I’d split them into 2x15 and do over two days, but keep him away from them between the two batches. Should get 80% held.

^this, if you have the time to sit with them for as long as it takes. Certainly the best way to get most sponged ewes in lamb by natural service.
I tried it once, but I’m not patient enough to do it again, and have always had AI bunches to sort at the same time, so mobs of 10 have been left in small paddocks with a raddled ram.

 

[countrylad]

1:8-10 for sponged, 1:25-30 for teased, 1:40-100 for natural.
I’d go for 3-4 tups to cover that group. Depends if they’re proven or not

 

[Ysgythan]

^this, if you have the time to sit with them for as long as it takes. Certainly the best way to get most sponged ewes in lamb by natural service.
I tried it once, but I’m not patient enough to do it again, and have always had AI bunches to sort at the same time, so mobs of 10 have been left in small paddocks with a raddled ram.

It can be a very tedious job. Mature tups who are used to natural service in big groups are brilliant. Ram lambs or rams who are not used to any other system are a pain in the arse. Did it for 4-5 years before trying AI and haven’t gone back 18 years later. Read into that what you will.

 

[neilo]

It can be a very tedious job. Mature tups who are used to natural service in big groups are brilliant. Ram lambs or rams who are not used to any other system are a pain in the arse. Did it for 4-5 years before trying AI and haven’t gone back 18 years later. Read into that what you will.

I know someone that used to hire groups of rams out for early lambers in our sheep group. They were all so used to individual mating that they used to serve the ewe presented to them immediately, then walk back to the gate to be let out of the pen. Swap for another ram for the next ewe whilst the first one recovered, and repeat.