Advice for buying rams and observing quarantine protocols

More rams are likely to be sold direct off-farm this year due to the cancellation of some breeding sales under Covid-19 restrictions. That means asking for a “bill of health” document and adhering to quarantine protocols is essential.

A survey of 600 UK sheep flocks found nearly 60% of farmers quarantined rams for less than the recommended four weeks (see “Survey findings”).

Kate Phillips, independent sheep consultant and co-author of the report, says this is something that must change.

“We should be giving animals time to settle in on their new farm.

But some people are ignoring it and expecting a ram to come off a farm and work the next day, which is too much, however they are reared.”

See also: How to carry out a ram MOT

Furthermore, the survey found most buyers knew very little about the feeding and parasite control of rams.

Dewi Jones, chief executive of breeding company Innovis, says the increased off-farm trade will allow buyers to find out more vital information from breeders about how sheep are managed.

“Premier sales normally have vets doing physical inspections of rams, but if you are buying directly from a farm, none of that is happening.

“If ever there was a time to justify a vet visit, it’s probably this year,” he points out.

This is also the perfect opportunity to establish long-term relationships between ram breeders and buyers, where both have a genuine interest in each other’s flock improvement.

Developing an open dialogue and trust are vital, they say.

Below, Ms Phillips and Mr Jones give advice to buyers and sellers to ensure rams are in top-tip condition ahead of breeding.

1. Before buying rams

Ask the vendor questions about their management practices:

• What level of lameness do they have in the flock? How do they treat lameness and what are the main causes? Do they vaccinate?
• Ask about their abortion status and barren rate. Do they vaccinate for abortion? (Target: less than 2%)
• Flock performance: Number of lambs weaned will give you an indication of performance-limiting disease.
• Ask the breeder about iceberg diseases. Their level of understanding will give you a good idea of how seriously they value their flock health.
• What quarantine measures do they adopt with any bought-in sheep?
• Antibiotic use and the main ones used to give an idea of the main disease challenges and level of disease.
• Feeding regimes, so you can transition the ram appropriately when you get it home – how much hard feed the ram has been given.
• Carry out a ram MOT: check feet and locomotion, teeth, testicles for lumps and body condition (target 3.5).

Breeders could complete a ram “Clean Bill of Health” form so buyers know the full details of veterinary treatments, vaccines and feed given to animals in the past six months prior to transfer. Download the form [PDF].

2. Quarantine rams (first 48 hours)

Keep rams separate from the rest of the flock for at least four weeks.

Worm them on arrival, using the two newer wormer groups, group 4 (orange) and group 5 (purple).

Hold rams in a shed for 48 hours. This means any resistant worms, expelled before the wormer has had a chance to kill them, will not be shed on to pasture where sheep can ingest them.

If sheep have not been treated for scab, and are at risk of having it, they should be treated with moxidectin.

Check feet for visible lesions. Carefully examine animals for contagious ovine digital dermatitis (COOD).

This presents in small ulcers around the coronary band (between the hoof wall and hair).

It is very contagious so every effort should be made to avoid introducing it to your flock if you don’t have it.

See also: Identifying CODD

Ask your vet to sample for Borders disease and while they are at the farm give the ram a once over, especially if this hasn’t already been done prior to purchase.

Borders disease is an infectious disease that causes abortion, the birth of small, weak lambs and those affected are known as “hairy-shaker lambs” because of their often fuzzy fleeces.

It is closely related to bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) in cattle, and foetal lambs infected in early gestation (before 85 days) result in persistently infected animals that excrete the virus throughout their lives.

There is no treatment and the disease can cause severe production losses, with an increase in barren ewes and reduction in rearing percentage.

3. Quarantine (after 48 hours)

After 48 hours, turn rams out to low-risk pasture for fluke (avoid wet, boggy areas).

Remain vigilant for lameness, nasal discharge and loss of body condition.

Get the ram on to the flock health plan and ensure it has up-to-date vaccinations to protect against clostridial diseases.