![]() There are several initial costs associated with keeping a ram, however, if you are researching rams you likely already have sheep and some of these expenses may not apply to you. Therefore, unless you have 50 or more ewes, you will only need one ram (keeping him with a wether – or altered male sheep – would be ideal as rams are social animals however). A ram’s peak breeding age is around 3-4 years of age, with immature rams able to service a slightly smaller number of ewes. Rams can service a surprisingly high rate of ewes, with an ideal ratio as high as 1:50 (or higher) with a mature ram. When considering breeding rams, you will need to know the appropriate ram:ewe ratio. ![]() Rams are not often kept unless there are ewes to be serviced, as rams can present more management challenges. Though rams do provide the advantage to raising meat of a faster growth rate, the main purpose that a ram serves will be breeding. If you are researching the cost of adding a ram to your homestead, you more than likely are planning to raise him with a flock already on the premises. Though sheep are hardy animals and easy to keep, there are a few necessities you must take into consideration before committing to a ram. After this, expect to pay around $90 monthly in maintenance costs, or $1,100 annually. How much does a ram cost? You can expect to pay between $2,000 and $4,000 in initial expenses to purchase a ram (including the animal himself). If you are interested in raising your own flock of self-sustaining sheep, you will need to purchase a ram or two for breeding purposes. Sheep are an excellent choice of “starter” livestock – they are hardy, content animals and can provide a homestead with ample meat, milk, and fleece.
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