[Jacob-list] Don't trust rams or wethers

[ARTHUR PARTRIDGE]

--Gary wrote:
>Please respect your rams. They can be quite dangerous.
> 
>I had one put a 3cm across by 8 cm deep hole in my leg with his horns and
>another one tried to beat me to death in the fall a few years ago.
> 
>In Snow Camp NC about 3 years ago a couple, in their 80s was found in dead
with
>their sheep. Beaten. Ram was the primary suspect!
> 
>The rams are not to be trusted
=============
Don't trust the wethers (castrated rams) either.  I just had an 8-yr-old
wether turned into 20 lbs of chorizo sausage and 20 lbs of muttonburger at
the local butcher shop.  He had become rather mean, hit me, threatened to
hit me, and hit the ram hard enough to make his eye swell.  I can't afford
to keep a mean animal around.  I always thought that a wether would be
docile like a ewe, that is not always so.  Besides the ewes, I have two
rams, three adult wethers, and two adult castrated rams (castrated after
sexual maturity, so the horns would develop fully), they have great horn
sets and nice fleeces.  Two years ago my shearer pointed to this particular
wether and said "he is second in command".  I told him that can't be, the
wether was surgically castrated at one week of age.  It wasn't a botched
castration.  The wether was very docile until two years ago, then he kept
getting more aggressive.  He had to go; but had a wonderful 8 years of life
here.  If any of you are also keeping castrated rams, be aware that they
can become aggressive someday.  IOW, never trust a male; sheep, that is.
Cathy
Moscow, Idaho