Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
7/25/02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Dan Morrical, Animal Science, (515) 294-0847, morrical@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Studs or Duds - How Do Your Rams Measure Up?
AMES, Iowa - Iowa State University (ISU) Extension, the Iowa Sheep and Wool Promotion Board and four veterinary clinics are offering breeding soundness exams throughout southeastern Iowa.
Previous years' testing showed more than half of Iowa's breeding rams were unsatisfactory due to factors such as small testicle size and excess abnormal sperm. The only way to determine if a ram is fertile is through testing. Fertility-tested and high-libida rams can reduce the length of lambing season and increase the number of multiples born in a flock. Fertile rams can breed 50-100 ewes, rather than the 20-30 ewes to unknown status rams. This alone can reduce the cost of each lamb born by $3.30.
The clinics are scheduled in Houghton and Washington on Friday, August 23 and Oskaloosa and Chariton on Saturday, August 24. Dr. Suelee Robbe, veterinary diagnostic and animal production medicine, ISU, will be the primary evaluator. Rams tested in previous years should be evaluated again this year.
Pre-registration is required. Contact Dan Morrical, animal science, ISU at 515-294-0847 or morrical@iastate.edu to register and get directions to the testing locations. The cost is $10 per head for the first five head and $7.50 for each additional ram.
To reduce the risk of biosecurity hazards, the rams will be tested on the truck or trailer.
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Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.