16 replies to this topic

[geonni banner]

This is a real newbie question that will have many of you rolling your eyes or maybe even rolling on the floor with laughter.

I have been spending a great deal of time studying sheep breeds, and something keeps occurring to me when I look at pictures of rams - especially shorn rams.

That is, are not their testicles really prone to injury? They are extremely large and pendulous. It would seem to put them at risk for all sorts of damage from being scratched by thorns, matted with burrs or just knocked about and bruised. Is this so?

[Cynthia P]

Certainly they can get injured. This is something we look at before breeding to ensure the testes are even, of good size and there are no absesses etc.

They don't spend their time running that much so injury from that is unlikely. Thorns etc could be a problem. Burrs don't usually get caught down there, more so on the top of the fleece. Rams with wool on their testicles will have it shorn (usually). Rams are usually checked at least twice a year at shearing and before introducing to the girls.

[juliepoudrier]

Not in my experience. It could happen, though, and if you keep a ram you should check him occasionally, but they can actually pull the testicles fairly high up, so even if the bag is snagged by something, the testicles don't necessarily get damaged. BTW, bigger is better when it comes to ram testicles!

J.

[Tea]

and that goes for breeding the ewes and pan frying

[terrecar]

Pondering the evolutionary advantage of large pendulous sheep testicles...Nope, can't picture it.

[NorthfieldNick]

My friend's old NCC ram injured a testicle somehow, probably butted by another ram. It was swollen for weeks, but he still bred all his ewes.

[juliepoudrier]

^^Well that's a ram for you!

J.

[OurBoys]

.....pan frying

Are these also calling Mountain Oysters?

[Liz P]

Larger testicles = higher sperm count = better chance of your sperm fertilizing the egg than the ram with smaller testicles. Strong selective pressures on reproduction often result in males with what might at first appear to be a major handicap.

[The Good Shepherd]

Larger testicles = higher sperm count = better chance of your sperm fertilizing the egg than the ram with smaller testicles. Strong selective pressures on reproduction often result in males with what might at first appear to be a major handicap.

Hi Liz

Nothing better then a textbook explaination

[Smalahundur]

and that goes for breeding the ewes and pan frying

Here they are pickled, pretty sour "hrútspungur". It´s an acquired taste...
I actually did acquire it, my wife thinks it´s disgusting.

[terrecar]

Thanks Liz. All is right with nature again.

[geonni banner]

Hi Liz

Nothing better then a textbook explaination

So bigger is better! Final proof.

[Tea]

Yes Mountain Oysters. Very tasty!

[juliepoudrier]

Yes Mountain Oysters. Very tasty!

So what exactly DO they taste like? I abhor real oysters, so just curious if I'd ever even want to try them, but certainly wouldn't if they tasted like the real thing....

ETA: And PLEASE don't say they taste just like chicken.

J.

[OurBoys]

ETA: And PLEASE don't say they taste just like chicken.

J.

Tea, I'm curious too. My mom grew up on a hog farm but she never ate them. My dad did but I can't ask him now.

[DebnKirk]

They are liver-ish, or at least hogs ones are. Was not impressed. Maybe chicken-fried with buffalo sauce???

Tea, I'm curious too. My mom grew up on a hog farm but she never ate them. My dad did but I can't ask him now.