Cryptorchids retain some ram lamb characteristics

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 18, 2 October 1984, Page 6

Cryptorchids retain some ram lamb characteristics

There is an opportunity for farmers to increase returns from lamb saies by adopting the practice of leaving ram lambs entire or making ram lambs cryptorchids. Benefits from entire ram lambs over wethers is well known, with rajn lambs producing leaner carcasses and Teaching killing weights in a shorter time. But the hassles with ram lambs start from February onwards. Ewes may start to cycle, and of course, if ram lambs get in with the mob the result is an early lambing for next season. A docking technique to

overcome the problem is to make ram la;. >s Cryptorchids. A cryptorchid is a ram lamb with the testicles pushed back up into the body cavity at docking and a ring put around the purse in the normal way. This reduces the development of the testicles and is about 99% effective in insuring infertility. However, ram lambs docked using this technique still produce sufficient male hormone to obtain the growth and carcass characteristics of ram lambs. Other benefits to this docking technique are that these lambs won't receive a

penalty in killing charge and cost no extra to shear. From a management point of view, these lambs tend to be a lot cleaner, with less dags, than ram lambs are. In dollar terms, this docking technique will return on average an extra one to two dollars per head over wether lambs. Remember the penalty for T grade lambs will be imposed from the start of the new killing season, so docking techniques either leaving lambs entire or making them cyptorchids should be considered seriously.

Will

Wilson

M.A.F.