I have a number of cows and a bull. Now what I want to know is my kid bought a Shetland ram about 60 lbs a day ago it is the only sheep on the place. How do you all think he would do if I put him out with the cattle for the winter? Do cattle hate sheep or vs? Have any of you all had sheep in with your cattle before?
Shetland ram with cattle?
- Thread starter zxcv
- Start date
randiliana
Well-known member
I would let the cattle get used to him across a fence first. If you have any cows with calves, you will have to be careful as they may see the sheep as something to protect their calves from (been there done that) and rub it into the ground. A 60 lb lamb doesn't have much of a chance against a 1000+ lb cow.
We had a bottle lamb about 15 lbs get out into our newborn pasture, and the cows in there proceeded to rub it into the ground. We were fortunate enough to find it before they killed or seriously wounded it. But it was pretty beat up and we figured that we would lose it for a few days. It managed to pull through (no broken bones) though. Once the cows got used to the sheep we were able to pasture them together.
We had a bottle lamb about 15 lbs get out into our newborn pasture, and the cows in there proceeded to rub it into the ground. We were fortunate enough to find it before they killed or seriously wounded it. But it was pretty beat up and we figured that we would lose it for a few days. It managed to pull through (no broken bones) though. Once the cows got used to the sheep we were able to pasture them together.
warpaint
Well-known member
A ram waiting for a train wreck.
I know virtually, nothing about sheep, but any bull you put in a lot with him will be the aggreser(sp), bull is gonna win.
I know virtually, nothing about sheep, but any bull you put in a lot with him will be the aggreser(sp), bull is gonna win.
Carlos D.
Well-known member
Rams can be agravateing creatures-there tough and when the cows have calves the ram wants too see whats new, the cow gets excited ,charges the ram. rams are too stupid to admit defeat; so they charge the cow,they will stay with the cow for hours.drives the cow nuts. Generally doesn't work to well
carl
carl
Carlos D.
Well-known member
not nessesarily Ive seen sufolk rams put the run on our limo bullwarpaint":17g17hq8 said:
carl
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warpaint
Well-known member
not nessesarily Ive seen sufolk rams put the run on our limo bullCarlos D.":2gk6upok said:
carl[/quote
Like, I said, I know nothing about sheep.
mtncows
Well-known member
I have run sheep and cattle together for many years without bad results.Our ram can more than take care of himself even with the bulls.However, he is a full grown Hampshire ram weighing around 175 lbs.Your lamb might be a little small yet especially in among cows and small calves. Also, my sheep and cows are not together in close areas such as a barn. Your ram mat need to be" creep " fed away from the cattle if space/feed is limited.
denoginnizer
Well-known member
You may want to be check your mineral/supplement to make sure it works with rams. Seems like there something cattle can eat that has an adverse effect on ram like creatures.
mcdowedd
Well-known member
We have had 7 ewes and 1 ram in with our heifers for 5 months now and it has been working great. The sheep eat what the heifers won't. This winter, we will have to seperate them due to the copper in the cattle feed, though. If you are only feeding hay, it shouldn't be a problem to keep them together.
mermill2
Well-known member
We have sheep running with our cattle, the only thing you may have to worry about is the trace mineral block for the cattle. Sheep can't take much copper, it can be fatal to sheep. Our plastic barrel, that we put the mineral block in, are suspened off the ground about 3 1/2 feet to 4 feet. Anyway, enough to keep the sheep from getting the mineral block. Also, sheep can be beneficial running with cattle, they eat weeds and plants, short grasses too short for cattle to graze.
IL Rancher
Well-known member
I have seen a full grown ram drop a full grown bull to his knees once and have been told of other tales by the man who shears our sheep. Those rams heads are something to behold when they decide to take a crack at something... I still remember a horned ram we had fighting for food with a 900 pound bull and the ram stepping back about 2 yards, rearing back and cracking that bull right on the top of hit head... I swear I saw birdies and stars flying around that bulls head for a moment or two... Little bull kept his space from that ram from that moment on... :lol:
