Many people have a question when raising rams and sheep, what is the difference between these animals. Everyone knows that these are two sexes of the same species of animal. However, the differences in terms do not end there. To understand the essence of the differences, you need to analyze existing concepts. The appearance of these animals is also important. It is significantly different.
What is the confusion?
At first, sheep were considered wild animals. Only after the domestication of individuals did the concept of “sheep” appear. Thus, these terms arose at different times.Before this, both the female and the male were called rams. The sheep is considered a domesticated animal. Moreover, this definition also applied to two genders.
The confusion arises due to the fact that the word “ram” is considered to have multiple meanings. In the first case, this term refers to the genus of artiodactyl bovids, which includes the species of domestic sheep. In the second, this word is used to indicate the gender of the animal. It applies within the species "domestic sheep". These pets are raised to produce tasty meat - lamb. The concept of “Aries” is worth mentioning separately. It is predominantly used in astrology.
Differences between ram and sheep
When studying the differences between animals, it is worth paying attention to terminology. In addition, the external features of individuals are also considered characteristic features.
Definition
According to the first definition, a ram is a genus of cloven-hoofed individuals, while a sheep refers to their species. It is worth concluding that among the varieties of animals there is a certain genus called “rams”.
It includes the following individuals:
- domestic sheep;
- urials;
- argali;
- mouflons.
This is not a complete list of individuals. The genus and species include many different animals. They belong to the same kingdom, phylum, class, order and genus. After which the gradation diverges. In the classification, the species is lower than the genus.
The next definition lies in the fact that the ram and the sheep belong to the same species. In this case, the first term is used to refer to the male, and the second term is used to refer to the female. The main differences lie in appearance.
Appearance
Individuals differ significantly in external data.It should be borne in mind that there are many breeds within this species. Sometimes it is worth taking into account the individual characteristics of each breed. However, most often they do not differ too much, and therefore it is quite possible to identify common features.
The ram is a mammal that belongs to the order Artiodactyls. On average, adult males reach 1.5 meters. Representatives of certain breeds are able to grow up to 1.8 meters. Weight varies - from 25 to 220 kilograms.
The first and main criterion by which it will be possible to distinguish a ram from a sheep is size.
A characteristic feature of the animals are large horns that form a spiral. They have small notches located transversely. The appearance of the horns is determined by the breed. In some individuals they grow up to 1.8 meters. However, there are animals with small horns.
Rams are distinguished by powerful legs that are adapted for moving across fields and mountain slopes. The tail is usually small in size. Its length is 7-15 centimeters. The eyes are on the sides of the head. This placement of the organ of vision helps rams assess the situation without turning their heads.
Raising animals is easy. They only need a place to sleep. In summer, lambs are allowed to be placed under a canopy. In winter you will need a warmer room. A sheep is essentially a female ram. The main difference in appearance is body size. Females are significantly smaller than males. Also, their horns are not so developed. The body size of the female is often half that of the male.
Differences in coat color have nothing to do with the sex of the animal. They are more typical for different breeds.The most common color options include the following:
- yellow-brown;
- grey-red;
- white;
- light gray;
- black;
- brown.
Rams and sheep live in herds. Animals communicate using characteristic sounds - they snort and bleat. Rams have different voice tones. This allows you to recognize your herd. In nature, sheep can live 7-12 years. The lifespan of individual individuals can reach 15 years. With proper care in captivity, this period increases to 20 years.
How to distinguish a female from a male?
So, the key criteria include the following:
- Dimensions. As a rule, the male is 2 times larger than the female in size. He also significantly exceeds her in body weight. On average, an adult male weighs 100-120 kilograms, and a female weighs no more than 70-75 kilograms.
- Presence of horns. Many breeds are characterized by the presence of horns on the male, while the females are hornless. However, there are varieties where both sexes are hornless. The opposite situation is also possible. Therefore, it is difficult to call this parameter a key one.
- Gender. Long tails or thick fur can make it difficult to see the testicles of males and the udders of females. However, their presence is easy to check.
- Behavior. Upon reaching puberty, males begin to fight for the female. During this period, they are characterized by appropriate behavior. Males often show aggression towards other rams. Females usually have a calm disposition and obediently follow other members of the herd.
- Presence of an udder. It is present exclusively in the female. Rams do not feed their offspring, because they do not have mammary glands.
Rams and sheep have a number of differences. The difference concerns the terminology and appearance of animals.
