Melwood Farm is quieter this week. We lost our ram, Jasper. For a small seedstock flock, a ram is never just another animal. Jasper was the other half of our breeding program—the match for the 35 purebred St. Croix ewes we know by name and habit. His job was to put the next generation on …Read More
Visual appraisal, when done systematically, helps identify rams with the potential to enhance traits like growth and conformation. Selecting replacement ram lambs is a critical step in improving flock genetics and productivity. Here’s a quick guide to how I evaluate young ram lambs for breeding. Structural Soundness I start by assessing the lamb’s structure. A …Read More
Someone recently asked me how I go about selecting the right ram. This is an important question, and by asking, a new breeder is demonstrating their interest in developing a solid flock. St. Croix ram selection is the most important decision in a seed stock breeding program. Get the best ram you can afford and be prepared to …Read More
