[Jacob-list] lateral horn in new position

[Lasell J. Bartlett]

Thank you, Carl. I should have taken a picture. There is a gap between the outer horn and the head on the top of the lateral, and none at the bottom, so it's off kilter. The core seems to be solidly attached - well, I would have expected it to feel floppy loose like a scud if the core had been detached. Plus, no blood… Does that make sense?

So, if left as is, it will grow and 'fuse' so to speak, in the current position?

He is a young ram we used for breeding this year. I'd like to keep him at least until his lambs are born to see what he added to the ewes he bred. He is out with one other ram and about 20 ewes for the winter. 

Lasell

On Dec 24, 2012, at 3:39 PM, Carl Fosbrink <fourhornfarm at frontier.com> wrote:


> Lassell,

> 

>     It sounds like both the outer horn and the horn core are both loose since the horn is going a different direction. It is possible the outer horn is broken loose from the core. Closer inspection would tell you which it is. If the outer horn is broken loose from the core you might be able to turn it slowly back to the original position and apply antibiotic to the area where it is loose from the core and then isolate it from other sheep so it doesn't get knocked around until it gets healed. If this ram is in a group of rams you are likely to have this sort of thing happening now and then. I do not know of much you can do if the core is loose. It might get solid after a time, but is likely to get knocked off if there is blood next to the head. If it is loose under the skin with no blood it is likely that it is broken loose down where the horn attaches to the skull. If this is the case it will probably not get solid again. When this happens to me I butcher the ram, but you may want to save him even if he has one crooked or broken horn if he is a great ram for breeding purposes. I bought a ram with a broken off lateral horn because I thought he would make a great breeder because of his pedigree and the fact that I saw a photo of him before the horn was broken off. The ram I bought had been in a group of rams and got his horn broken off in a fight which often happens when rams are kept in a group. Best of luck to you with this problem and maybe others have another opinion. I'm sure many have had broken horns.

> 

> 

> Carl in Indiana

> --------------------------------------------------

> From: "Lasell J. Bartlett" <lasell at lasell.org>

> Sent: Monday, December 24, 2012 3:04 PM

> To: <Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>

> Subject: [Jacob-list] lateral horn in new position

> 

>> I noticed that a young ram's right lateral horn was looking very different and so I caught him up to check. It is a little loose, and appears that the outer horn is what I would call dislodged from its original position.

>> 

>> Is there anything I can or should do about this? Will the horn fuse and continue to grow in this new position? I hope it won't - I'd like to be able to do something to return its growth to the direction it was growing…

>> 

>> Thanks for your thoughts and advise. And Happy Holidays to everyone.

>> 

>> Lasell J Bartlett

>> lasell at lasell.org

>>