Protect flock fertility with pre-mating ram breeding soundness checks. Identify subfertile or infertile rams early and maximise scanning and lambing results.
Your rams are some of the most valuable sheep on the farm, with one of the most important jobs over mating, but their health and breeding soundness can easily be overlooked. Think of a ram run as a wellness check — a bit like checking the oil in your car — to help make sure your rams are in tip-top shape before mating.
We palpate ram testicles before mating as part of a breeding soundness examination to identify rams that may be subfertile or infertile before they go out with ewes. A single infertile ram can have a major impact on scanning and lambing performance.
When palpating the testes and epididymides, we’re checking for:
- Size and symmetry: Both testes should be similar in size and shape. Uneven testes can indicate disease or testicular degeneration.
- Consistency: Testes should feel firm and resilient, not hard, soft, or shrunken. Abnormal consistency can be associated with reduced sperm production.
- Epididymal lesions: Lumps, swellings, or irregularities may indicate epididymitis, commonly associated with Brucella ovis, which can reduce fertility in rams.
- Scrotal abnormalities: Scrotal hernias, adhesions, injuries, dermatitis, or excessive wool can affect testicular temperature and sperm production.
- Scrotal circumference: This is often measured because it correlates with sperm production and reproductive potential.
Our on-farm visits are timed to give you the opportunity to identify and replace unsuitable rams well before mating. The visit can also identify other health issues, and if further work such as an Animal Health Plan is needed, we can arrange this for a later date.
If you have any questions please give us a call 06 876 7001 (EXT 2)
