My crazy off the wall stupid question for the day

[SBMF 2015]

Our local rodeo added mutton bustin about six years ago. The crowd absolutely loves it. We started out using my landlord's Suffolk sheep. Ewes are all of 250lbs. They could handle 90lb kids no problem. But they aged out. Now we borrow a guy's 100 lb Dorset ewes. It works but not as good.
So I got the crazy idea that if I had a pen of mature weathers they would be plenty capable.
Sheep are not dirt cheap. This is going to turn into a little investment.
So here's the crazy questions;
1) Has anyone banded mature rams?
Obviously they need tetanus shots.

2) Rams will fight to the death. Anybody have any tricks on how to get them to not kill each other?

3) If they are banned will they eventually mellow out or will they always act like a stag?

I'm thinking 15-20, two to four year old rams would make a decent string of fairly big sheep that we could put several kids a night on.

 

[gcreekrch]

I banded some yearlings this spring. One got an infection we had to treat but all lived. Did the mutton busting here for several years. PIA

 

[SBMF 2015]

I banded some yearlings this spring. One got an infection we had to treat but all lived. Did the mutton busting here for several years. PIA

Yes, total PIA, but the parents and grandparents love it and they buy tickets to come see lil' Johnny eat dirt half a jump out of the chute.

I've banned some big year + bulls before but didn't know if sheep had quite the will to live like beef cattle do.

 

[Travlr]

Yes, total PIA, but the parents and grandparents love it and they buy tickets to come see lil' Johnny eat dirt half a jump out of the chute.

I've banned some big year + bulls before but didn't know if sheep had quite the will to live like beef cattle do.

Why not buy banded lambs and a couple of fertile ewes and just grow some replacements as the wethers age out or get injured? You'd need one ram or access to a neighbor's ram.

As popular as mutton busting is at rodeos I'd think you could be paid if you are willing to travel.

 

[SBMF 2015]

Why not buy banded lambs and a couple of fertile ewes and just grow some replacements as the wethers age out or get injured? You'd need one ram or access to a neighbor's ram.

As popular as mutton busting is at rodeos I'd think you could be paid if you are willing to travel.

That's probably the right way to do it. But wethers are so expensive right now I figured I could buy cull rams cheaper.

Yes, I'm crunching the numbers and checking into liability insurance. I think traveling would make some bucks.

 

[Ky hills]

Only thing I see is some rams can be pretty aggressive and dangerous, I don't know if steering them would cure it once it's learned behavior.
Maybe find a sheep sale and get some younger Suffolk type lambs. Use the wethers when they get big enough, if you find sone ewes maybe run a few and raise your own supply.
When I had sheep I had mostly Suffolks.
I always say if I was to have sheep again it would be hair sheep so I wouldn't have to have them sheared, but they are like the Dorsets they are smaller,

 

[puzzled in oregon]

I personally would not be comfortable with mature rams that have been banded around such small kids.
Would be concerned their behavior would still be that of a mature ram. You would need on the spot
"Ram Fighters".
The bigger sheep capable of supporting 90 Lbs. is a good idea so the sheep don't get hurt.
But a 90 lb. kid should be riding steers.
Maybe hair sheep crossed with Suffolk or Hampshire would produce lambs of a sturdy enough build..
Unless the kids start using Ram Ropes/Bull Ropes, they need some wool to hang onto.

 

[Logan52]

Buy wethers that were banded as lambs. Use sheep from one of the larger breeds like Hampshire. Suffolk or Columbias.
Feed them well and worm them. I have seen fairs buy older thin ewes from the yards and on hot nights it is not a pretty sight. They just can't take it.
I like the idea of a string of wool bustin wethers. It is more popular at our local fair than our lamb show. If you did not want to travel with them they would bring most of your money back when you sold them.
I have been asked to loan ewes to the fair but weaseled out. It can come close to abuse for productive ewes,

 

[gcreekrch]

Yes, total PIA, but the parents and grandparents love it and they buy tickets to come see lil' Johnny eat dirt half a jump out of the chute.

I've banned some big year + bulls before but didn't know if sheep had quite the will to live like beef cattle do.

We put a 50 lb limit on kids here.

 

[Ky hills]

Buy wethers that were banded as lambs. Use sheep from one of the larger breeds like Hampshire. Suffolk or Columbias.
Feed them well and worm them. I have seen fairs buy older thin ewes from the yards and on hot nights it is not a pretty sight. They just can't take it.
I like the idea of a string of wool bustin wethers. It is more popular at our local fair than our lamb show. If you did not want to travel with them they would bring most of your money back when you sold them.
I have been asked to loan ewes to the fair but weaseled out. It can come close to abuse for productive ewes,

Not that it matters for mutton bustin, but I didn't like the Columbia sheep at all. Just had a few Columbias, they just seemed weaker and so much wool that grows down over their eyes. Had a few Rambouillets which were similar to Columbias but didn't have as much issue with the wool over the eyes and they seemed a little bit stouter.
My preference was Suffolk, not near as much wool, clean heads and undersides.
Hampshires are good sheep but a little more wool than Suffolks.
Suffolk Dorset crosses made good ewes.

 

[cowman82]

when i was a kid i'd wrap my rope around my hand a bunch of times and get on my 4H suffolk sheep and ride it. It would be so calm and nice and as soon as you got on it,.. hold on. it'd fling me off and drag me a ways.

 

[puzzled in oregon]

And all those wethers are going to need rodeo names.

 

[puzzled in oregon]

when i was a kid i'd wrap my rope around my hand a bunch of times and get on my 4H suffolk sheep and ride it. It would be so calm and nice and as soon as you got on it,.. hold on. it'd fling me off and drag me a ways.

We put a saddle on one of my Mom's bottle calves "one" time. When we pulled the cinch tight, things started happening.
That calf scattered three kids three different directions.

 

[Travlr]

And all those wethers are going to need rodeo names.

Pretty obviously the first one I thought of was "Wooly Bully".

Silence of the Lambs

Ewe Better Hold On

Ram Power

Wolf Bait

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

Best contest I ever saw was wild cow milking.

 

[puzzled in oregon]

That was the best part, only part of Junior Bonner I remember. The wild cow milking with the big "Old Yellar"
type dog having a great time trying to help with the cows. And the rodeo announcer saying somebody get
that dog out of there. Sorry I have strayed off topic.

 

[puzzled in oregon]

@SBMF 2015 Good luck with this project. Hope to see pictures/videos of your Mutton String.

 

[gcreekrch]

And all those wethers are going to need rodeo names.

Stormy Wether, Bad Wether, Cold wether……

 

[Travlr]

Stormy Wether, Bad Wether, Cold wether……

Crappy wether...

 

[SBMF 2015]

The Fleeced Beast
Wool Warriors
Baa'd boys
Fuzzy Fighters
Mutton but time