With a raddle harness and a crayon, you can see during tupping season which ewes the ram has served. The ram wears a harness with a colour crayon on his chest; when he serves a ewe, he leaves a colour mark on her back. This collection contains the nylon raddle harness and Raidex crayons in four colours.
Harness and crayon: what you need
The nylon raddle harness fits rams and billy goats and does not shrink when it gets wet. You slide a crayon into the holder on the chest. Raidex crayons are made of wax, paraffin oil and pigment and, according to the manufacturer, can be used in both summer and winter. They come in blue, yellow, red and green, so you can change colour during the season.
A colour scheme that tells you something
Change the crayon after about one cycle of the ewe, just over two weeks, and note the date of the change. Start with the lightest colour and move to a darker colour, because a dark mark still shows over a light one, but not the other way round. A scheme could be: yellow, then green or red, and finally blue.
- One colour on the back: the ewe was served in that period; note the date for your lambing calendar.
- A second colour added: the ewe has been served again and probably did not get pregnant after the first service.
- Many ewes with a second colour: have your vet assess the ram and the flock.
Group ewes by colour, so you can keep an eye on them per group during the lambing period.
Points to note
Check the harness daily for the first few days: it must not rub behind the front legs or on the withers. Replace a worn crayon in time, or you will miss services. If you need separate marker sticks to mark animals after a treatment or when weighing, see marker sticks and livestock marking spray or marking sheep. For the period after that: lambing and lambing season.
Frequently asked questions
Which colour crayon do I use first?
Start with a light colour, such as yellow, and then move on to darker colours. That way a new service stays visible over the previous one.
Does the raddle harness also fit a billy goat?
Yes, the nylon raddle harness is suitable for sheep and goats.
How often do I change the crayon?
Many sheep keepers change after about one cycle of the ewe, just over two weeks. Also replace the crayon sooner if it is used up.