Over the years we have developed a pretty fail-safe strategy for re-introducing the rams to each other. On the day that we want to disperse the breeding groups, we prepare a pen approximately the size of the number of rams we have to work with. The above photo shows the 2005 ram pen. The idea is to pack them in as tight as possible to allow them the least amount of space possible. The reason behind this is: when rams get back together after they've been in rut and with ewes, they will want to fight each other. They will smell the ewes on each other and they will be primed to fight. If they are allowed limitless space, they will back up and "ram" each other just like those wild mountain sheep on television shows. That usually results in some seriously injured or dead animals. By locking the rams up in a space appropriate to their numbers, they can only jostle each other and they don't get that "full steam" run at each other. We will leave them locked up like this for around 24 hours. We don't bother to try to feed or water them anymore, as they ignore the food and water anyway, as they are most interested in "wrestling" with each other. We do however, check on them often. As you can see in the above photo, they can get their horns locked together. This is one reason it's best to have rams with good wide horn sets. The wider the horns, the less likely they are to get locked up without being able to get themselves loose. I noted this year that several times there were some horns that slipped together, but because the horns were nice and wide, the rams managed to maneuver their heads so that they got disengaged on their own. We do check on them often during the time they are penned together to make sure they are alright. After 24 hours they are now tired, hungry and thirsty. We then let them out and instead of immediately fighting, they usually head for the hay feeder or water source. There will usually be some limited jostling for "head ram" position that day, but because they are tired and have already been locked up, they have much less power and enthusiasm behind their blows. Below is a photo of the two oldest/biggest rams, who had to decide which one was going to be "head ram." Although there is some injury, we have had no fatalities using these strategies (knock on wood). Within 48 hours of putting them back with each other, they have sorted things out and all is now calm with the rams. Note (below) how the white ram is panting - this indicates they are really too tired to hurt each other badly.
