The following breeding management techniques make for a highly fertile ram lamb. Age A ram lamb at five months can usually settle a few ewes, but he will be a much more aggressive breeder at seven months. The following chart identifies the minimum weight of ram lambs used for breeding. A growing ration through the breeding season is a must to keep lambs healthy. Although they may not eat as much during breeding season as non-breeding season, they need a minimum of two percent of their body weight in grain, as well as a liberal roughage intake.
Management Never allow ram lambs and mature rams to run together in breeding pens.
The older rams are more dominant and can injure the lighter, less experienced lambs. Shear rams before breeding season, especially lambs. They may become exhausted especially on extremely warm days. Hot weather or high body temperature can make a ram temporarily sterile. High body temperatures can be caused by either heat stress or disease.