I don't think you were necessarily asking for opinions about whether or not to band, but that has never stopped me from offering one <g>.
Unless one plans on keeping wethers long-term in their flock for some reason (like using for dog trialing) or have a market for pet wethers, I can't find any reason to put a ram lamb through the trauma. If the ram lamb is destined for the freezer, then keep him in an area apart from the ewes and let him grow to butchering weight with his testicles intact.
The biggest mistake that hair sheep breeders make, in my opinion, is treating their sheep like woolies. We have a unique sheep that requires a very different kind of husbandry than wool sheep. This listserv can help readers learn those differences and increase the pleasure in raising sheep the easy way.
Carol
At 11:03 PM 3/9/2004 -0800, you wrote:
Open question,
Is anybody banding their rams? I am considering this so that they may stay with the herd longer, and to reduce fighting and head bashing among them.
Carol Elkins Critterhaven Estate Registered Barbados Blackbelly Hair Sheep (no shear, no dock, no fuss) Pueblo, Colorado http://www.critterhaven.biz T-shirts, mugs, caps, and more at the Barbados Blackbelly Online Store http://www.cafepress.com/blackbellysheep
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