Hi Rick, I raise polled Barbados Blackbelly so I do not deal with horns but here is some information you might be able to use.
The damage I sustain is from rams fighting with a fence or barrier between them during mating time. I have had your standard tube gate with wire mesh attached to it flattened from the rams. I have had panels made out of 1 inch solid steel top and bottom with 1/2" solid steel verticals every 2.5" bent into a bow from impacts (the ram really was not very big either)! I have had "T" posts sheared off at the bottom from impacts. If I were to make my dream barn I would have concrete walls poured up from the foundation the first 3 feet. After that it is up to your preference on barn construction. Concrete is expensive though so you might consider just running a strand of electric fence to protect your barn. On the inside of your barn run a grounded wire parallel to the hot wire close enough that the sheep will make contact with both wires. If you are in a dry environment do the same on the outside of your barn. You probably have a good idea of the height the rams hit at which is probably taller than the newborn lambs. My only other suggestion is to get them something they enjoy hitting more than your barn. Something that makes a good "BANG" when hit. Might be fun to make a big steel gong! Mark Wintermute Subject: [Blackbelly] Barn siding/building material David, I have corrugated steel siding on my current, antique barn and it is all smashed in. I have no steel rails, however. Nearly 100% of all barns are made of wood; I've never seen anything else, and that's why I'm asking what most of you do about rams butting into your walls and wearing them down. Any more suggestions? I can imagine the lower 3 feet made with cement blocks, but I don't think that'll look good and I've seen no barns like that either. My barn was originally build with the beautiful, inch thick barn-wood planks which were replaced with corrugated steel as they wore out. Now the steel panels are smashed, too. Rick Krach in Auburn, CA _______________________________________________ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
