xt72v6987f94 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt72v6987f94/data/mets.xml   Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. 1936 journals kaes_circulars_285 English Lexington : The Service, 1913-1958. Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station Circular (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n. 285 text Circular (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n. 285 1936 2014 true xt72v6987f94 section xt72v6987f94 ml COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
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Extension Division
THOMAS P. COOPER, Dean and Director
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. Circular N0. 285
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mc RAMS FOR COMMERCIAL FLOCKS
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Ymling Southdown rams. The Southdown is a popular breed in Kentucky.
Lexington, Ky.
June, 1936
mmliubgislied in connection with the agricultural extension work carried on by co-0per-
of Ag the College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, with the U. S. Department
Congiesiugillrlif im; distributed in furtherance of the work provided for in the Act of
ay , 1914.

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 » Circular N0. 285
 _ RAMS FOR COMMERCIAL FLOCKS
* RICHARD C. MILLER
. Kentucky has long been distinguished for the production ot
.  lambs ol superior quality; nevertheless, she also produces some ol`
j the poorest. The contrast in quality of lambs on adjoining [arms
_ sometimes is so great as to attract the attention of travellers on the
  highway. An even more striking contrast appears when the lambs
are sent to market. A principal cause of this diversity is the too
i ummion use of inlerior, grade or scrub rams as sires lor market
lambs. Lambs ol superior quality invariably show the pronounced
C _ inlluence ol purebred rams. The property of transmitting his own
y diaracteristics to his offspring is so strong in a purebred ram that
T his lambs inherit superior quality even tho their mothers are not ol
the best type. The quality ol the produce ol` a grade or scrub ram,
Mllim however, is uncertain because of his mixed ancestry. The lamb
lg M iv Ul?1}'ll1l1€l`iL characteristics lironi either parent ol a grade l`2\ll1 or
i from some undesirable ancestors ol a scrub. This does not happen
i with a. purebred ram because his ancestors, male and female, lor
‘ many generations, have been, bred with the idea of hxing good
qualities and eliminating all undesirable characteristics.
Even with the best ol ewes and the best ol care and manage-
‘ ment, it is impossible to produce a high percentage ol prime and
diiiice lambs when grade or scrub rams are used. regardless ol how
good the rams may look as individuals. Nevertheless thousands ol
I Kentucky sheep raisers still head their llocks with grade a·nd scrub
, rams and many others breed to purebred rams ol` inlerior quality.
 I ()|ten a man buys a flock ol ewes, picks them carefully, takes the
pains to examine the mouth and udder ol each, as he should, and
V then asks the dealer to sell him a ram [or the same price as he paid,
y per head. lor the ewes. Many rams that are culled lor replacement
and sent to the stockyards are purchased by other larmers for breed»
 A ;‘;E;Si"ll(l SONIC traders make a business ol buying gl‘<lC ylllltl $(`1'Ul>
and peddling them to larmers. These larmers evidently do
_ not realize how very expensive these so called “cheap" rams will
prove to be. Regardless ol? the class ol` ewes a farmer may have, he
y tan make no greater mistake than to mate them to a poor ram.

 Q .
—l l(t·tt/ttr/ty lixleitsimt Circular No. 285 _
The man who sacrifices quality in order to save a few dollars on iliy Mtlilll
price of at ram is sure to be the loser in the end. _ lwl hi
· H
“ BREEDS »‘ l¤**`S€'
_ _ creed
y The question arises as to what breed ol ram is the most suitable I EMM]
to Kentucky conditions. The answer is that no one breed is hea  . 0[guj
suited to all conditions under which lambs are produced in this no Su
state. Aside from the likes and dislikes ol the individual [at·niei·, _·  uw),
many factors must be taken into account, such as the kind of ewe, 0[ 80
in the flock, whether or not some ol the ewe lambs are to be kept g T
for breeding, when lambs are to be marketed, the grazing and leetl Years
available, whether or not creep feeding is to be practiced, and tlte gpc,
equipment [or winter shelter and lambing. mg li
Lambs sired by Hampshire, Sullolk, or Dorset rams make intttlt ands
faster gains than those by rams ol the smaller breeds of {incr htitttr. nterc
like the Southdown. \Vith ewes ot good conl`ormation, when lztntlts tttars
are to be pushed rapidly to an early market, rams oi? the lztrgttt tnanj
breeds are preferred by many Kentucky larmers. These also att y tal l
good with certain types ol western or line-wool ewes, and espetittllt _ tttttnt
so if ewe lambs are to be kept lor breeding. Rangy, upstandittg I S.
ewes should never be bred to rams ol the larger, more upstandittt  I tttedi
type. The Southdown makes an ideal cross on such ewes. \\'ltt·tt noti
the larger breeds are used, it is important to breed [or early latttlt laml;
. ing and to creep leed the lambs, at least until plenty of grazing it A is nt
available.
Sou/htlown. The Southdown breed oi` sheep has been bred ittt
many generations with the purpose ol` developing the best possiltlt
mutton type. Kentucky breeders are using this breed extensitt- ~
ly. lilocks ol` Southdown are to be lountl in the llluegrass att·.t
and. in recent yea-rs. in other parts ol the State. The S()lllll(lt>\\`lll‘
a compact. symmetrical. l()\\'~SCI type ol` sheep and the snt:tllP~* "l t
the Down breeds. Southdown rams are so prepotettt that trltttt
crossed on ewes ol` poor ctmlormation they give a larger pert·eitt;t;t·
ol` prime and choice lambs than do rams oi the larger and tt>;tt~tt
breeds. Q
Lambs siretl by Southdown rams do not make as rapid gain~·t*
lambs sired by rams ol the larger, i`aster-grmving breeds, sutll 1** lil"
Hampshire a-nd Dorset, bttt they latten more readily. hold tltttt
condition longer and dress out a larger perrentage ol` ltiQll‘¥"j"l`
meat. The Southdown rams are not recommended. litnvt·rt~r. tit
la2|`l`lll(?l` \\’lSllCS lt) S2t\‘t? e\\'C lll]lll)$ lor l)]`Q(j(li]]g_ Such t‘\\'t’¤ Will il y

 _ Rams for Commercial Flock; 5
» · of bone, will *ield a com yarativel li ht cli > of wool and will .
H thu sara 5 l l
` 110t have the milking qualities desired in a good commercial ewe.
Hmnjxlzire. The Hampshire is a dark-faced Down breed, much
··er than the Southdown and not so com actl built. It is a
ing
greedy feeder and capable of making phenomenal gains if properly
““l’l“ ‘ rmtlled. Lambs of no other breed excel the Ham ashire in rate
1 I
“ IM of gain and, as a sire of early market lambs, the Hampshire ram has
l ll“* _ no superior. Lambs by Hampshire rams, if dropped in February,
·ml“"· · maybe marketed in May, as they should reach marketable weight
tcm of 80 pounds in three months, if pushed from birth.
’k°l" The popularity and rapid increase of the breed during recent
1 [wl years has caused some breeders to lose sight of quality and breed
'd Ur me with the result that man Y rams have been retained for breed-
,l i
ing that should have been sold to the butcher as lambs, and thous-
math r ands of ewes have been registered that were Ht only for use in com-
Imiur. mercial {locks. There is no place in this or any other state for the
lambs . toarse, ran¤·v, bi -headed. narrow-ehested tue of Ham Jshire that
s, S l l
ltrigu lllll·Il}' farmers continue to produce. The low, compact, symmetri-
so art . tal Hampshire with close, even lleece, is the kind in greatest de-
etiall} taand by our lamb producers.
aiding Sltrojzs/tire. The Shropshire is a dark—faced Down breed, inter-
mtling mediate in size between the Southdown and Hampshire. X/Vhile
\\'l1eu not numerous in Kentuck >, the * are yo Jular in man * of the native-
5 5 l l 5
lamlr lamb states, particularly those north of the Ohio where the breed
ziugis i is now numerically the most important. Farmers who save ewe
‘Ctl [tn
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emitt-
rs attr _ $j
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vt `< ,
l A yearling Shropshire ram

   F
? 6 Kentttc/ty Extension Circular No. 285
lambs for breeding frequently prefer Shropshires because they yield rams <
A a more valuable fleece than do sheep of the other important rrrut- · ewe la
ton breeds. The ewes are also noted for high fecundity tho ther ewese
are not so good in this respect as the Dorset. They do not breed ewes f
so early as most other Down breeds and are not such good milkers ewe la
r as the Dorset, Hampshire, Suffolk or Ryeland. Lambs by Slrmlr ‘Y Hesh·
shire rams can be made into choice market lambs if handled prop- sale la
erly and for farmers who wish to keep some of the ewe lambs for . regard
breeding and, at the same time, produce choice market lambs, the · Tli
Shropshire deserves consideration. _ the pa
tablisl
Ry
early-r
? if and er
• . prodtr
,_ `_ this ct
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fi. [ if      T  ` "     .t·-   
4 Q   _‘    I _v_.     ·`i’ ' ··    
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t,.   i   , .,, .¢i»,   ._    
A yearling Chcviot ram .
C/lc'?/I.Of. The Cheviot, a light—fa·ced, hill sheep, is the lrardiest.
most active nrrrttorr breed in the State. \*Vhile Cheviot larrrhs are
somewhat slower to mature and a little more difficult. to finish tharr
lambs by rams of most of the other breeds, they are extremely attire · Q
from birth, a factor which reduces the death losses. The t]l11¤***T mbii:]
of tllC Cétrtiilss is very good and ewe l;m1l)s by Cheviot rams alltl 0*** bam (
of close—wool or western ewes make good eoimnercial ewes. T**€*`*` mm);
are few flocks of Cheviots in Kentucky. "I_€a£{
There are in the State a number of flocks of other breeds, the ‘ °
Ryeland and Suffolk especially, and occasionally an Oxford or (Zor-
riedale is found. W
l)0rse/. The Dorset is a horned, light-[aged sheep and UNC ‘”f ii m°"°**
the oldest of English breeds. The Dorset ewes are noted for ***¥]' ul°_d‘
fecurrdity, early lambing and good milking qii;i,iiiics_ \\’hile l¤¤****` mlm
sired by Dorset rams do not show such high quality as l2iI***)’ *’l mfI"*‘

 Rams for Commercial Flocks 7 l
yieltl rams of some of the other breeds, Dorset lambs grow rapidly and  
mut- ewe lambs by Dorset rams out of Rambouillet or Delaine ewes or
ther ewes carrying considerable Hne-wool blood make excellent breeding
Jreetl ewes for commercial flocks. The farmer who wishes to keep his
Llkers ewe lambs for breeding makes no mistake in using a Dorset ram.
limli ` He should plan, however, to have his lambs come early and get his
prop- sale lambs on an early market. Creep feeding helps greatly in this
>s for regard, especially until plenty of grazing is available.
s, the · The Dorset has made considerable headway in Kentucky during
rhe past few years and many new flocks of the breed have been es-
tablished.
Ryelrmtl. The Ryeland ram offers real possibilities as a sire of
earlyariaturing lambs of good quality. The fleece is fairly heavy
and ewe lambs by Ryeland rams out of ewes of Hne—wool extraction
produce excellent farmers’ ewes. The few Hocks of the breed in
this country are in Kentucky.
.¤·;   . —.»   » »==;‘     .t·  =‘ :_    _·- 
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liesl if      ii        
( ‘ ` fsf}-;  ,.sgg¢eg·t· z$· »   }# y ¢>lg . »     f" `
is are   "`*""`°r**>» M-·* é3 .··si<%·~¤·$§‘.2»4·r·¤:¤a¥*»2i‘;a.    ·¤‘  s  Q3
lllilll An aged Ryeland ram
irtixe
mm. Silllvllc. A number of small Suffolk {locks have recently been CS-
mm §l>l1Shecl in the Stare, The SuFfo1l; is a. dark—l`aced Down breed,
hm are ef wool over head and legs, As sires of market lambs the 1111115
°°'“l”"`€ VCYY favorably with Hampshires. The breed has been
,_ [lie  ` gmail}, lmPI`0V€d during recent years.
U"' GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD RAM
7 ' - . _ _
llhlle 1t is not necessary {hat zi ram intendetl lor use on C0m·
’ ‘ me". . . ~ . .
IC el Tm] ewes have all the {me breed points required Of Il l`2llll l0 be
` USC _) r . . .
liitill I If fm H purebred flock, rr is Important that he be a good l‘e]>l`CSCl1·
Hur . . . · · ·
atlllh C Of the blCC(l, that he be vrgorous and active, wtlb 21 b0l'!IllIlCll`|(`dl· Kiwi

 1 .
n 8 Kentuc/cy Extension Circular N0. 285 ·
he stand well on all four feet and that his fleece be close and even.
Narrow-chested, ewe-necked, weak—headed rams should be avoitletl I
by all means, as should overfat or unthrifty rams. While rams
should be in good field condition, it is a great mistake to buy rams
that have been highly fitted for sale or show. Such rams may prove I
disappointing, as the fitting often impairs their usefulness eitltct " 
temporarily or permanently.
AGE OF USEFULNESS ·
M/hile rams are usually at their best from one to three years ttf K
age, caution should be exercised in the purchase of rams older than .
yearlings. These older rams may be offered for sale because tlttt f
proved disappointing as breeders; non—breeders are discarded afttt W
the first year. A growthy ram lamb in good condition may be usttl
on a small number of ewes, usually not more than hfteen. Ast  i
rule, it is not advisable to use ram lambs unless they are allotrttf
with the ewes only a short time, morning and evening, and are fctl  
grain daily. The better plan, under average conditions, is to utc  
a good yearling or older ram. A iii
REGISTRATION IS IMPORTANT     li:
While it is not necessary that rams intended for use in c0tmtt@t‘· j  
cial flocks be registered, the registry certihcate is the best guarzttttt y  
of the purity of the breeding. Then, too, the man who keeps fti»  _ *4:
registrations up to date usually is a more constructive breeder atttf °  
` has better sheep than one who is negligent in such matters. y  
Annually hundreds of grade rams are sold to farmers itt lftit 5 hi.;
State as “purebred unrecorded" rams. "l’urel;red unrecordctf`f11f*  
becomea COnvenient term that often covers a multitude of tlCfl’l`f*  
YVhile there are some good purebred flocks of unregistered >f1f‘¤‘|’ A if
in Kentucky, many so called purebred unregistered sheep are ottlt I
high grades. The farmer who buys an unregistered ram must rutt
the risk of getting a grade unless he knows the flock from which tht
ratm comes.
AVOID DISEASES
Many troubles in sheep are bought into the flock. Sotttetittte  .
the purchase of a ram is the means of infecting an entire f|<>¢‘f<· fh i
Sl1€CpmIlll Sl1OUld use every possible precaution to guard 1lgZ\lU>f_fff" mmffff
[l‘0ClLlClDg disease into his flock thru the purchase of l`Zl1U*· Fm; · Am-mul;
best [)l2lC€ to buy Il YHIH is on the l`a,rrn of the man who l>1`f>flff“‘f `_  WSW
him, where the entire flock can be seen before purchase is ttttttlt ’
If the Hock is in an unthrifty condition or there is evidence of t·¤<·f
trouble or other disease, it would be wise to buy elsewlterc. i