[Jacob-list] Marking Harnesses for Rams

[Anderson, Gary B.]

We annually use marking harnesses to record breeding dates and calculate
lambing dates for our ewes.  We have used several types but currently use
nylon harnesses available from Premier.  These harnesses, unlike others
we've used, have plastic snaps that make putting on and taking off quick and
easy.  We've not had problems with rams, even ram lambs, losing the harness;
we don't have trees and bushes in our pastures, and perhaps this reduces the
likelihood of a ram getting out of the harness.  (The harness needs to fit
snugly when first applied, as it tends to loosen as the straps mat the
wool.)  From my experiences, crayons need to be replaced every few weeks,
especially for active rams, or one needs to be good at deciphering
indistinct marks on the ewes.  Crayons of different hardness are available
for use in late summer versus mid-fall temperatures.  Regardless, with time
random marks from an occasional mount by the ram become easy to distinguish
from repeated mounts at estrus.  We usually (i.e., try to) change crayon
colors every 16-17 days to pick up ewes that return to estrus and are
'remarked.'   I am happy with the results and find knowing due dates on our
ewes to be especially useful (e.g., Do I need to get up in the middle of the
night tonight, or may I sleep until morning?).  This year we lambed
approximately 30 ewes, and for all but two I had an accurate due date for
lambing.  Joan Franklin is right that available harnesses can have a lot of
excess webbing for Jacob rams (Gosh, I never thought of cutting off the
excess, but you should see how creative I've become with tying bows).

For us, marking harnesses have worked well and with few problems on Jacob
rams.  I've wondered how real wool aficionados feel about the crayon marks.
Sometimes ewes are still well marked at shearing.