09/04/2026
FRIDAY QUIZ TIME: 🐑✂️ What exactly is a vasectomy in a ram?
Vasectomized rams/bucks—often called “teaser rams/bucks”—can be a great tool in a breeding program. A vasectomy allows the male to keep his testicles and testosterone thus maintaining normal libido and breeding behavior.
Teaser ram/buck can help identify ewes in heat and tighten up/synchronize the breeding window. A more concentrated breeding season can mean a shorter, more predictable lambing season, which allows farms to increase staffing and supervision during those critical windows—which can ultimately help improve lamb survival.
The procedure itself can be performed minimally invasively through a small incision. We identify the vas deferens, separate it from the other structures of the spermatic cord, and remove a section from each side.
🔬 Here’s where veterinary medicine gets really cool!
This little guy is only 5 months old, so the vas deferens and surrounding structures are tiny and can be more difficult to confidently identify than in a mature ram. One way we can double-check our work is by examining the tissue/contents under the microscope for evidence that we successfully isolated the reproductive tract.
Check out the microscope photo—do you think we removed the correct anatomy? 🔬🧐
And for our sheep people: What breed do you think this handsome little guy is? 🐑
Important KEY: Rams/bucks should not be assumed sterile immediately after vasectomy. An appropriate waiting period and/or follow-up semen evaluation is recommended before relying on them as teasers.
