Optimized use of rams

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Country: Italy

Dairy or/and meat sheep: both

Source of information: http://www.sardegnaagricoltura.it/documenti/14_43_20131114135122.pdf

Level of solution: Practical

Aim: Improving the fertility and concentration of lambings

Description:

What and How to do: Application system:

- Step 1 Isolation of males from females in a separate pen (far from sight, hearing and smell) for at least 8 weeks.
- Step 2 (Day 1) Rams introduction (no shearing) (1Male/20Female) 17-20 days before mating.
- Step3 (Day 10) Sharing according to weather
- Step4(Day14-16) Organization of the mating group (4-6Male/100 Females). In the case of controlled natural mating with just one ram, it is suggested to use the teaser rams with marking crayon or use small mating groups with 1M/20F.
- Step5 (Day 17-18) Put marking crayon in rams to better control mating behavior.
- Step6-(17-25) Starting of the heat and mating days.

When to do: The ram needs to be introduced according to the reproduction plan (May-June) in the Mediterranean region, the ram removal should be done at the end of the reproduction season (July) for adult ewe and (November – December) for ewe-lamb (Dairy sheep management).

Expected benefits: Increasing fertility rates and concentration of lambing

Prerequisites and/or limits

Suffcient manpower to manage groups

Areas for male isolation.

Sufficient number of males.

Teaser ram for farms of the selection program

Increased costs of males management

more information on Booklet “ram management” AGRIS-ARA

References

Dattena, M., & Mayorga, I. (2011). Innovative biotechnologies of reproduction on sheep management. Options Méditerranéennes. Séries A. Mediterranean Seminars, (97), 89–94.

Cox, J. F., Jeria, E., Bocic, A., Vera, N., Soto-Saravia, R., & Dorado, J. (2015). Characterization of the productive performance of Highlander sheep in Southern Chile. II. Male reproductive traits. Small Ruminant Research, 130, 189–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2015.07.004

Van Metre, D. C., Rao, S., Kimberling, C. V., & Morley, P. S. (2012). Factors associated with failure in breeding soundness examination of Western USA rams. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 105(1–2), 118–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2012.02.002

Dattena, M., Mayorga, I., Mara, L., Gallus, M., Meloni, G., Cabiddu, A., … Dattena M et al. (2012). An example of reproduction management in organic sheep farming. In EAAP Scientific Series (Vol. 131, pp. 223–227). https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-741-7_27 LB – Dattena2012

Dattena, M., Mara, L., Falchi, L., Meloni, G., Facchin, F., & Gallus, M. (2012). Artificial Insemination and Reproduction Management in small ruminants with special regard to future perspectives. EAAP European Association Animal Production.

Gouletsou, P. G., & Fthenakis, G. C. (2010). Clinical evaluation of reproductive ability of rams. Small Ruminant Research, 92(1–3), 45–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2010.04.005

Scaramuzzi, R. J., Oujagir, L., Menassol, J. B., Freret, S., Piezel, A., Brown, H. M., … Fabre Nys, C. (2014). The pattern of LH secretion and the ovarian response to the “ram effect” in the anoestrous ewe is influenced by body condition but not by short-term nutritional supplementation. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 26(8), 1154–1165. https://doi.org/10.1071/RD13139

Tips & Tricks

Ram’s foreskin crayon marking

Anti-mating apron for rams

Ram’s chest crayon marking

Harness with crayon

Home-made shadowing sheds

Use of unshorn rams

Measuring tape to asse ss the testicular perimeter of rams

Expected impacts

Stakeholder Perception for Implementation of Solutions
1. Level End-User Assessment (Partner)

Country		Italy
Partner		Agris
Topic		Reproduction
Issue		ram management
Solution No/Name		15 – Optimized use of rams
Service provider/technicians+vet or farmers		farmers
Benefit
Benefit expected		fertility
System
Is the solution suitable for various production systems		Yes	all types define in the first survey
If no – for which system
Cost
What are the asset costs	materials to manage rams						<100
What are the maintenance costs	materials to manage rams						50-100
Any limits to its applicability	Sufficient manpower to manage groups, facilities for male isolation, sufficient number of males
Work Load
		Farmers		Service provider/tech.-vet-others
How much time is required to prepare and implement the solution		learning of the procedure					1 day – 1 week
How many people is needed to implement the solution?		depend on farm organisation
Timing
How long it takes to get results?						2 months
How long it takes to see an effect on sheep productivity?						next production period
Equipment/Facility
		Farmers			Service provider/technicians-vet-others
What kind of equipment/tool are necessary?
Skill/Knowledge-Training (farmer)
Does the solution need any specific skill/knowledge or training?					learning of the procedure
How much time will be required for training					1 day
Wider Environment
Is there any particular regulation link to the solution?
Does the solution need any particular structure or organisation?

Users’ evaluation:

Country	Spain- EAGROUP, COVAP, MSD
Solution No/Name	A12- Ram management during reproduction season
Farmer/Service provider/technicians-vet-others	F	A
Why did you select this solution?	Low fertility and need to increase the economic profitability of the activity
Was it easy to implement?	more or less
If not say what are the identified drawbacks?	Rams in the flock are usually the forgotten ones
Did you need to adapt it?	Yes
If yes, how?	Homogenize the classification criteria
Were you happy with the outcome of the solution?	Yes
What were the outcomes?	Culling old males (>5 years-old) Cull between 13-18% of rams due to poor seminal quality The fertility of the batch varies depending on the number of non-valid rams used: 0 infertile rams ………..85% fertility of the batch 1 infertile rams………..67% fertility of the batch 2 infertile rams……….. 61% fertility of the batch
Score the solution	Interesting but needs adaptations to be better implemented (minimum requirements for the rams)
Will you continue to implement it?	Yes
If not, for which reasons?
Comments/Additions	The first evaluation must be at least when rams are 8 months old. Seasonal variations in the testes size and seminal quality require in some males the implementation of 2 analysis. Cold weather conditions in the field may generate doubts about the result of the evaluation of sperm quality.