[Jacob-list] Rams: hay and grain

[Jacobflock at aol.com]

Fred here.  We have 21 rams in various paddocks. The largest group is 11 in 
the southwest pasture.  Two are kept as singles; one group of 3 is out back, 
one group of 4 is in a front pasture, one is still with a group of bred ewes.

A general observation about the various groups and hay/grain feeding.  The 
largest group of eleven has been carried as three sub-groups: a few rams to 
be used as sires, a half dozen that are part of the genetic study at Texas 
A&M (lysosomal issues), a a few that we kept to see IF they would develop as 
sires.  These are hayed in the normal regimen and I bring the hay cart in 
with me every night.  They avoid me (say 6-8 feet is the closest) and follow 
me with the hay cart....they also avoid urinary calculli with a forage diet.  
When hayed and eating hay they are rather calm.

Over the past two months (Winter energy) I have started to grain...about 1/2 
to 3/4 of a pound ("all grain", cotton seed meal, soy meal and wheat 
(9/1/1/1) all natural...for winter energy and to "fatten several for the 
knacker".  The dominant ram in the large group is the only one that tries to 
approach me when I go in with the feed bucket.  I take an empty feed bag and 
shake it at the group; 10 back off, 1 stays about four feet away.  He is the 
one I watch.  They become aggressive in trying to eat the grain...(its like 
candy to kids).  I put out grain for 11 but put it at fifteen feed 
stations...they do a lot of milling around but there is less direct fighting 
than when the number of rams equals the number of feed stations.

The two smaller groups of 3 and 4 are hayed only; the singles get hay and 
some grain.  The smaller groups of 3 and 4 react differently to the hay; the 
group of three do not push each other around, the dominant ram in the group 
of 4 does push each of the others out of the way to get the "choice" piece.  

Again, I always throw (depending on the size of the flake) at least one more 
flake than the number of rams.   Hay has a plus over grain; they are far less 
likely to get urinary calculi.

On the other hand, grain feeding is a good indicator of color genetics.  When 
they fight over grain and cut each other's faces, if the hair grows back 
black...they are dominant black.  Cut and abrasion repairs come in with the 
dominant color.

Ain't easy keeping a flock of rams; down right dangerous keeping any males 
around...political correctness.  Always be vigilant, never trust anything, be 
prepared to avoid and/or defend.  Two years ago I was haying a ram group and 
was chased by a ram after haying.  As I was leaving the field...eight feet 
from the gate I heard or sensed the approach...took two steps and a jump and 
went over a five foot pipe and mesh fence...not thru the gate.  I celebrated 
my 62 birthday.

Seems that there could be an argument made for putting tractor tires upright 
in the yard for both "aesthetic" and practical reasons.  Fred