Ouch!

Head butting is both a natural and learned behavior in sheep. Contestive head butting is a carry over from when sheep ran wild and from those who still do. Since only the dominant rams get to breed the ewes, rams must fight to determine this privilege.

Classic head butting among rams is highest during the rutting season which preceeds the onset of heat in ewes. It is a way for rams to get into physical shape for the breeding season and to establish (or re-establish) the dominance hierarchy.

Sheep are the classical social "flocking animal." They work out a social order by head butting, poking with horns, shoulder pushing, blocking, and mounting. This is seen most clearly in rams who back off, then charge, meeting head to head with a large bang.

To discourage butting, you should avoid petting or scratching a ram on the forehead. The ram may see this as a challenge or aggressive behavior. This is because the ram sees you as part of the flock and he wants to dominate you.

. . . New Words . . .

Rutting - condition or period of mammalian sexual activity.

Dominance - the higher status position when social rank is organized according to a dominance-submission hierarchy.

Hierarchy - a group arranged according to rank or authority.

Heat - readiness for sexual activity.