to mark the backs of ewes he mates (different rams may be given different colours). Also a verb ("that ewe's been raddled"). Also ruddy. Ram – an uncastrated adult male sheep. Also tup. Riggwelter – a sheep that has fallen onto its back and is unable to get up (usually because of the weight of its fleece). Ring – a mob of sheep moving around in a circle. Ringing – the removal of a circle of wool from around the pizzle of a male sheep. Rise – new growth of wool in spring beneath the previous year's fleece. Shearing is easier through this layer. Rooing – removing the fleece by hand-plucking. Done once a year in late spring, when the fleece begins to moult naturally, especially in some breeds, such as Shetlands. Rouseabout – (often abbreviated to 'rousie'), shedhands who pick up fleeces after they have been removed during shearing. See also broomie above. Ruddy – local Cumbrian term for raddle. S Scab or sheep scab – a type of mange in sheep, a skin disease caused by attack by the sheep scab mite Psoroptes ovis, a psoroptid mite. Scabby mouth – see orf above. Scrapie – a wasting disease of sheep and goats, a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE, like BSE of cattle) and believed to be caused by a prion. Efforts have been made in some countries to breed for sheep genotypes resistant to scrapie. Shearing – cutting off the fleece, normally done in two pieces by skilled shearers. A sheep may be said to have been either sheared or shorn, depending on dialect. Also clipping. Shearling – a yearling sheep before its first shearing. Also hogget, old-season lamb, teg. Sheepdog or shepherd dog – a dog used to move and control sheep, often very highly trained. Other types of dog may be used just to guard sheep (see livestock guarding dog), and these are sometimes also called sheepdogs. Sheep – the species, or members of it. The plural is the same as the singular, and it can also be used as a mass noun. Normally used of individuals of any age, but in some areas only for those of breeding age. Sheepwalk – an area of rough grazing occupied by a particular flock or forming part of a particular farm. Shepherd – a stockperson or farmer who looks after sheep while they are in the pasture. Shepherding –