St Helena : Rams Ready
Submitted by Saint Helena Herald (Juanita Brock) 23.01.2004 (Article Archived on 06.02.2004)
Having imported six rams from the UK last year, the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department has now placed four out on the pasturelands.
Rams Ready
Having imported six rams from the UK last year, the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department has now placed four out on the pasturelands.
Arthur March, Senior Agricultural Assistant (Livestock) said the purpose of importing the rams was to introduce new breeding stock to the Island. The department aims to do this every three years so that inbreeding is reduced. Arthur explained that, at this point in time new breeding stock has been introduced to the western area.
Therefore, two rams have been placed at Man and Horse and another two at Botley’s Lay. The rams are to remain there for a period of three cycles (9 weeks), before being transported back to their main base at Sunny Side, Scotland. They will be taken to the same pasture in 2005, but, after a period of two years, they will be swapped so as to introduce unrelated rams to each area. This is because by then, their offspring will be old enough to breed and there would be a risk of inbreeding if the same rams were to be used. Owners will also be advised not to let offsprings breed with each other. Arthur said that the six rams are not related so this means that six new blood lines have been introduced to the Island.
The remaining two rams are to stay at Sunny Side, and will be available to other sheep owners. The owners will be asked to select their potential breeding ewes whereby they will be induced then brought in to be serviced by the rams.
The rams are the Cheviot breed, and they weigh about 75 to 80 kilos and are about 20 months old. They were released from the quarantine station on 27 December last year. Arthur said this is a good breed and added that from his past experience with importing Cheviots “they are best suited to the Island’s conditions and needs.”
Public Relations/Information Office
Office of the Chief Secretary
21 January 2004
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