The Smallholder Magazine No.2 All About Rams Back Issue

Late summer and autumn herald the approach of
winter but rather than being the end of the year for
livestock keepers, they are in reality the start of next
year and a new season. For it is at this time of the
year that big decisions are made about breeding,
and the first one is of course, to choose the male.
It is said that he is ‘half the flock’ and indeed his
influence will be stamped on all the o¦ spring so its
important for the sheep, goat or alpaca breeder to
choose wisely. August onwards sees breed society
ram sales held up and down the UK and buyers
flock to these to see what’s on offer and compare the
quality. Even if you don’t want to buy a male at this
time, you can learn a lot by talking to the top class
breeders and get your eye in for future years.
It may be that you don’t want to keep a male
for a small flock so you need to select from other
smallholders or farmers, a male who will have
done his job for them and can move on to pastures
new for a month or so! Or for goats there is a very
good artificial insemination service – details on
the British Goat Society website – that allows you
to choose from a range of top quality males and
breeds.
Alpaca owners can take time to have a look
round the studs and talk to the owners to find the
male that will improve or enhance their own stock.
Practical sheep, goats and alpacas magazine have
an ever growing directory of contacts for breeders
and societies giving a wealth of information at your
finger tips. Other decisions made at this time of the
year are which animals to breed from, whether to
sell some of your livestock or indeed to buy some
more. „ is decision is o« en dependent on the
winter feed but it has been a brilliant hay harvest
this year. We were absolutely overwhelmed by the
quantity and quality we got from our fields and
will go into winter with that satisfying thought, a
full barn of lovely sweet smelling hay.