[Jacob-list] Ram marking harness

[Debbie Bennett]

A couple years ago, we bought a new ram lamb for breeding and after a 
week or two he still seemed to have no interest in the ewes. I thought a 
marking harness was an expensive idea, another rancher came up with a 
solution: dry tempera paint mixed with shortening. We mixed it up in an 
empty margarine container and left it out on the fence post. Every few 
days, we grabbed the ram by the horns at feeding time and smeared some 
on his chest. We soon knew that he was doing his job and knew exactly 
when the lambs were due. It took months for the paint to wash off the 
ewes, but it was gone by shearing time with no ill effects on the fleece.

Debbie Bennett

On Thursday, September 6, 2001, at 07:47 AM, Jacobflock at aol.com wrote:

> Received a call last night from Eric and Ann Wilmot who are trying to 
> "time"
> breeding and lambing to about six weeks.  I explained that we use 
> multiple
> rams in many "honeymoon" hotels and move rams in and out to "time" the
> process and marking harnesses were no longer in our program.
>
> About five years ago we TRIED a marking harness about three times in two
> weeks ...that is we had to put the harness back on every couple of days.
> Between the horns, fence, trees, etc. he and they would manage to get 
> rid of
> the harness and everything was crayoned.  We gave up on harnesses.
>
> Has anyone or does anyone use a harness for their Jacobs?  Does it 
> have a
> special size or unque features?  Where, if a harness has been used
> successfully, did it come from?  We got ours from Premier but is there
> another source?
>
> Thanks,  Fred Horak for Ann and Eric Wilmot.  They can be reached by 
> phone at
> 903-499-2216 if you want to call them directly.
>
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