[Jacob-list] ewes vs. wethers

[ARTHUR PARTRIDGE]

>So now I'll ask you - If breeding is not in the equation, which would you 

>rather have - a wether or a ewe?

>Kathe

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I now have two rams, 2 castrated rams (castrated after sexual maturity so
the horns grow out), 4 adult wethers, 2 lamb wethers, and a bunch of ewes. 
I need to downsize.  Personally, I like ewes best overall.  The 'boys' are
larger, stronger and harder to handle (one is real easy to work with).  I
had one wether who turned 'rammy' after 8 years and tried to hit me twice. 
He was delicious.  It wasn't a botched castration, he was done surgically
at one week of age.  Many of the boys are more aggressive when it comes to
feeding time.  Some wethers are and can be just like ewes.  Also, wethers
are more prone to urinary calculi problems so their diet and water intake
needs special attention.

However, a friend of mine raised one of my wethers and really likes him. 
The wethers have great wool and because they are larger they have more of
it!  The 'boys' play more at dusk, lots of chasing each other and head
butting.  It's fun to watch them.  I think it comes down to taking chances,
you take more of a chance with a wether whereas a ewe is pretty much more
predictable that you will get a docile animal. 

Perhaps it is best to sell one of each and get the best of both worlds,
that's what I try to do.when someone wants pets.

Cathy
Moscow, Idaho