This footage shows a protective ram, trying to ‘save’ an ewe from a man who tries to give it an injection, by headbutting him and almost knocking him out.

The owner, named Mr Liu in local media in Fuyang, in the province of Anhui in China, said that he was giving his sheep their shots when he was caught off-guard by the feisty ram on 6th December.

CCTV footage shows Mr Liu attempting to give one of the ewes an injection when the overprotective ram seemingly deems him a threat and hits him in the neck with its head.

And the strike appears to have been a painful one, as the man repeatedly shakes his head afterwards in an attempt to make the throbbing ache go away.

But the persistent ram does not back down and keeps eyeing Mr Liu as he gives the ewe her shot, and even approaches him and begins sniffing his back.

Mr Liu said that he was in so much pain that he almost fainted after being hit.

Seemingly afraid that a second blow might completely knock him out, Mr Liu angrily chases away the ram and even kicks it in the face to even the score.

He wanted to kick it once more, but as the ram went running Mr Liu said he gave up as he did not want to harm the animal after spending the last two years taking care of it.

Mr Liu said that although he felt a little dizzy and stunned by the headbutt, he still managed to give the sheep her injection.