Pre-joining ram examinations are vitally important because they help us control the things we can control before joining starts.

There are three main reasons we recommend them.

Firstly, we want to make sure we have enough sound, fertile rams to do the job.

Secondly, we want to identify diseases that affect fertility, particularly ovine brucellosis, before they impact scanning results.

Thirdly, by carrying out examinations early, producers have enough time to replace any rams that don’t pass the examination.

At For Flocks Sake, we think about pre-joining ram examinations as the equivalent of a pre-season fitness test for professional athletes.

When you think about it, a Poll Dorset ram is responsible for driving the cash flow of a sheep business through reproductive success. With that in mind, we can’t afford preventable failures.

One of our core values is “control the controllables.”

We can’t control the weather or the season, but we can control the condition of the players taking the field.

Professional sporting teams don’t send players onto the field without medical and fitness testing because there’s too much riding on the result. By carrying out pre-joining ram examinations, we’re simply making sure our best athletes are fit, healthy and ready to perform when joining begins.

Timing matters

We recommend scheduling pre-joining ram examinations around 10 to 12 weeks before joining.

This gives producers enough time to treat any problems, allow rams to recover and, if necessary, purchase replacement rams.

The timing is important because sperm production takes around six weeks. Any stress during that period—such as illness, shearing, vaccination or foot problems—can affect semen quality. By carrying out examinations well before joining, rams have time to complete a healthy sperm cycle before they go out with the ewes.

What are we looking for?

Our examination focuses on four key areas.

Teeth – Can we trust this ram to maintain condition throughout joining? Every year we’re surprised by how many broken mouths we find.

Toes -Foot problems are common but are often easily managed if they’re identified early. Trimming feet and treating foot abscesses before joining gives rams time to recover before they’re expected to work.

Testicles – This is probably the most important part of the examination. The testicles are the ram’s factory. We assess their tone because it gives us an indication of sperm production. Testicles that are too soft or too hard can both indicate problems.

Tackle – We also assess the penis and sheath where possible. Injuries, infections or abnormalities in this area can prevent successful mating even if everything else appears normal. While it can be more difficult to examine in commercial situations, checking for obvious issues can help identify rams that may struggle to serve ewes effectively.

One of the diseases we’re looking for is ovine brucellosis. This bacteria lives in the testicles, damages fertility and can dramatically reduce conception rates.

Unfortunately, by the time producers discover there’s a problem through poor scanning results, it’s already too late.

The good news is that ovine brucellosis can often be detected through physical examination and confirmed with a blood test.

Who should perform pre-joining examinations?

We believe producers can create a lot of value by regularly looking at their own ram team.

Checking mouths, feet and general soundness doesn’t require a veterinary degree.

 However, comprehensive pre-joining examinations are best carried out by veterinarians experienced in sheep reproduction. If abnormalities are detected they can collect blood samples, investigate diseases such as ovine brucellosis and provide management advice immediately.

Protecting one of your biggest investments

Looking after your ram team isn’t just about fertility—it’s about economics.

As rams remain productive for longer, their annual cost to the business decreases. Less ram wastage means producers can continue investing in better genetics rather than replacing rams because of preventable problems.

When you think about the value of a ram team, it’s often equivalent to having a new ute sitting in the paddock.

We regularly service our vehicles to prevent breakdowns.

Our ram teams deserve exactly the same attention.

By carrying out pre-joining ram examinations, we’re simply making sure our best athletes are fit, healthy and ready to perform when joining begins.