Ram

Pet Ram

Ram are medium-sized animals, classified as artiodactyl ruminants with large spiral horns. Selection work has resulted in a variety of breeds that differ in weight, coat, fertility, and a whole range of productive and decorative traits. It was domesticated over 10 thousand years ago in several regions. To date, several close wild relatives have survived that are capable of producing full-fledged offspring. It is of great agricultural value as a source of meat products, wool, and fur raw materials.

Ram, both wild representatives and domesticated species, are multilocular animals. This physiological feature allows sheep to absorb roughage and efficiently convert it into energy and materials for growth. The first and largest (in some breeds it can reach 30-35 liters) chamber is the rumen. It begins to function as the lambs grow older and switch to roughage. By this time, the bag is populated with high-quality microflora (protozoa, bacteria) that process cellulose. To enhance the processing of feed, there is a chewing mechanism – regurgitation of hard and large particles for repeated chewing. In sheep, chewing occurs at rest – during the midday or evening rest.

Sheep are one of the most unpretentious domestic animals. That is why they are bred not only on large farms but also in small households. They have high plasticity and adaptability to various climatic conditions and feeding regimes, therefore it was possible to develop a huge number of breeds of these animals adapted to life in different climatic zones.

In addition to adaptability, a valuable quality of these animals is their ability to eat the most inexpensive food. Physiological features (pointed head, mobile lips, and sharp, slanted teeth) allow them to eat even the most sparse and low-growing vegetation in desert pastures, and their natural endurance makes it possible to drive them over long distances.