19/06/2026
Breeding systems in sheep ~ Part 1: Natural breeding: the baseline
This one is reasonably self explanatory 🤣
In a natural breeding system, rams and ewes are run together and mating occurs without intervention. The ram identifies ewes in heat, and successful conception depends on fertility, timing, and natural behaviour.
From there, the ewe carries and raises her lambs herself, and her performance is directly visible - conception rate, lambing ease, mothering ability, and lamb growth are all expressed under real farm conditions.
This is the foundation of most sheep breeding systems, and the benchmark we still measure everything against. Regardless of technology, these core traits remain essential in any functional flock.
