It’s October…it’s really exciting, and it all kicks off at Yellingham Farm. I expect most of you are thinking a big party, a celebration, a celebrity coming to stay at the B and B. It’s much more exciting than any of those events……………it’s time to put the rams in!
Please don’t be disappointed and stop reading because it really is an exciting time when that circle of life for the sheep starts again in earnest, and who knows you might learn something.
But of course, before we put the rams in with the ewes, normally around early October, there is a little bit of shopping to do and that’s something that even Amazon can’t provide or deliver – a new ram, or in the trade we call him a “Tup”.
This year, I was only in the market for a new Black Welsh Mountain ram and of course, where are the best ones bred?… Wales of course. The Main Show and Sale in Monmouthshire came and went, and I was still without what I wanted. So, what did I want?
When buying a ram there are 3 vital things you need to consider. I always liken it to a MOT on a car, but I call it the 3 Ts. Let me explain.
The 1st “T” is for teeth – sheep only have teeth on the bottom and a pad/gum on the top and it is important that the lower teeth hit the top pad just back a little so they can graze well – if his teeth are too far forward or too far back, it is a big NO. Dodgy teeth in any male – definite NO!
The 2nd “T” is for toes – well feet really. A ram must have good sound feet given that in the next 6 weeks of his life serving his ladies, he will spend a great deal of time balancing on his back legs – enough said!
OK…. the 3rd “T” needs no further explanation. What I am about to write is absolutely true, so please do not be embarrassed and read on. They must be nice and large, of an equal size and firm to the touch. Phew. Done.
I was lucky enough to find just the boy I was looking for at a fabulous small farm near Bristol and collected him this week. We pasted a lovely orange gunge type paste on his breastbone and let him into the field with 14 Black Welsh ewes. No one was more excited than me…well for about 5 minutes when “Colin” was definitely more excited than me and set to his task with gusto. The gestation period is 147 days or thereabouts, so we should start lambing early March 2021.
So when you walk past the farm and see ewes with a lovely orange bottom, you know that “Colin” has been a good boy!
PS Some 40 years ago as a newcomer to shepherding, when I first learnt of the absolute need for vigilance when selecting and buying rams, I happened to pay a rare visit to my Doctor. He was always interested in my activities on the farm and when I explained about the 3 Ts he smiled and said…. “In terms of the most important “T”, the human male isn’t so complicated – any shape or size will do!”
Janet East
