This will be important where housing facilities are tight, but also to precisely match late pregnancy feeding.

Start off with light colours, such as yellow and blue, working up to green, red and black. In peak mating, raddle will need to be reapplied every two to three days, reducing to weekly when the breeding season is nearing an end.

A ram harness will reduce labour in catching rams and a decision depends on farmer preference. If using a new harness, it is important to catch the ram after a few days to allow for movement or stretching in a new harness and see if it needs to be tightened. It is also important to check at regular intervals to ensure that the harness is not impeding breeding.

Read more

Boosting output through breeding on hill sheep farm

Sheep management: Raddle rams for more precise breeding

Sheep management: Finishing hill lambs efficiently