Active rams run out of gas

08 April 1999

Active rams run out of gas

A THREE-year study of sheep on the St Kilda has revealed that “quiet” rams are likely to be more fertile and productive than more active ones.

The research was carried out by a team from the Institute of Biological Sciences at Stirling University.

Research head Dr Ken Wilson said that while the big rams concentrated purely on rutting, the smaller ones copulated less and ate more.

This made their ejaculations more potent because they had not been rutting at such a high rate.

• The Scotsman 08/04/99 page 10