The Rural Voice, 1987-12, Page 540./.i. N
1
1Ioliday
Greetings
At this holiday season, it is time
to say Thank You and to express
to our customers, old and new,
warm Season's Greetings.
HURON DAIRY
EQUIPMENT LTD.
R.R. 4, Seaforth, Ont. NOK 1 WO
519-527-1935
Louisville, Kentucky
NATIONAL FARM MACHINERY SHOW &
CHAMPIONSHIP TRACTOR PULL
Over 340,000 square feet of exhibit space and 750 exhibitors.
Included in the Tour Cost: All transportation by deluxe motor coach, three
nights accommodation at the Ramada Inn, tickets for the championship
tractor pull, all taxes and service charges.
PRICE: $349.00 per person (Twin) Call and ask for your free
Fall/Winter brochure!!
Mount Forest
1-800-265-2133
519-323-1545
Mitchell
519-348-8492
9ttcs
/ TOURS AND TRAVEL LID.
52 THE RURAL VOICE
ADVICE
BREEDING RAMS
REQUIRE TLC
Young breeding rams need special
care if they are to mature properly. For
one, they must be fed to meet their nu-
tritional requirements. The most impor-
tant thing to remember when feeding
young rams, or any type of sheep, it to
feed according to their body condition.
Also important are a shelter to en-
sure the ram does not get overheated and
adequate room to exercise. In warm
weather, rams will breed better if in
short fleece. Their feet should be
trimmed before breeding, and in some
cases a ram should be drenched for
worms to ensure efficient use of feed.
When only one ram is being used or
when individual records are being kept
in a purebred flock, it is critical to know
whether or not the ewes are being set-
tled. One method of determining the
breeding effectiveness of a ram is with
the use of a marking harness containing
a crayon. The colour of the crayon
should be changed every 16 days (the
approximate estrus cycle of the ewe). If
a number of ewes are marked with two
or three different colours, they are re-
turning to heat. It is a good idea to pro-
gress the colour from light to dark (yel-
low, red, black).
Ram lambs should not be expected
to breed more than 20 to 25 ewes in the
first year. Yearling rams should be able
to handle 30 to 40 ewes. Some shep-
herds enhance the ram's breeding per-
formance by running their ram(s) with
the flock at night and penning them up
during the heat of the day and supplying
them with extra food.°
Bill McCutcheon
Provincial Sheep Specialist