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Mid-season flocks finished breeding need to take care to give ram lambs preferential treatment to ensure they recover after the breeding season.
Management will differ depending on the condition of rams post-breeding.
Where rams have lost significant condition, offering even a small level of concentrates with access to good-quality grass will help to get rams back up to speed quicker.
Offering 0.5kg to 0.8kg concentrates for 30 days at a cost of €250/t will only amount to €4 to €6 per head.
Increasing the price of concentrates to €300/t, where purchasing in 25kg bags, will add on another €0.50 to €1.50 per head depending on feeding levels – a small price to pay to safeguard your investment.
The above advice should be used for mature rams that have lost significant condition with aged rams with a poor mouth also at risk of failing to regain condition fast.
Mature rams should also be assessed as to their suitability to breed again. There is little point holding rams for a year if they are not up to it.
Where rams are being regrouped after single sire mating, breeders find that grouping rams in a small area that limits fighting will help rams to get accustomed to each other again at a much lower risk of injury.
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