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All Sheep and Lamb Discussion / Infertile ram
« on: September 01, 2016, 05:35:11 pm »
What is standard procedure in this situation?
I bought a mature ram in partnership with another breeder. Had him hauled here in early June and my partner turned him out with a half dozen CIDRed ewes. He marked them, but they all just ultrasounded open. He's been with another handful of ewes and remarked them three or four times. Just had him semen checked and in her words, "He is all bad.......less than 40% viable sperm, slow motility, 60% gross abnormalities, ie; separated heads/tails, somethng called mid piece droplets, which basically looks like it's folded in half and causes it to go in circles....He says there is no way to know if/when he'll improve but at this point he is not producing enough good semen to get these ewes bred." So we have had this ram nearly three months and he has not settled a single ewe.
I contacted the seller prior to the semen test to give him a heads up and his only response was that he sired 30+ lambs last year. Obviously I don't believe the seller knowingly sold us an infertile ram. But what would be standard procedure here? Are we just out our money or is the seller obligated to refund our money? I know what I would do myself if I were in his shoes, but ethically/legally, what happens in this situation? There was no discussion about guaranteed fertility, but is it implied when you sell a ram? I just want to know what is reasonable to ask for/expect, if anything.
I bought a mature ram in partnership with another breeder. Had him hauled here in early June and my partner turned him out with a half dozen CIDRed ewes. He marked them, but they all just ultrasounded open. He's been with another handful of ewes and remarked them three or four times. Just had him semen checked and in her words, "He is all bad.......less than 40% viable sperm, slow motility, 60% gross abnormalities, ie; separated heads/tails, somethng called mid piece droplets, which basically looks like it's folded in half and causes it to go in circles....He says there is no way to know if/when he'll improve but at this point he is not producing enough good semen to get these ewes bred." So we have had this ram nearly three months and he has not settled a single ewe.
I contacted the seller prior to the semen test to give him a heads up and his only response was that he sired 30+ lambs last year. Obviously I don't believe the seller knowingly sold us an infertile ram. But what would be standard procedure here? Are we just out our money or is the seller obligated to refund our money? I know what I would do myself if I were in his shoes, but ethically/legally, what happens in this situation? There was no discussion about guaranteed fertility, but is it implied when you sell a ram? I just want to know what is reasonable to ask for/expect, if anything.
