What’s Going On With This Ewe?

[Cab-over Pete]

Aye-up,

We got the sheep in today to sort a few groups.

Couldn’t help but notice this shearling ewe. She appears to be in milk. Never been with a ram that we know of, absolutely certainly never had a lamb.

She’s not in pain, the whole group of shearlings were skipping about like loons when we got there. The udder isn’t hot or hard and although the milk looks just slightly watery it’s not rancid or smelly so I don’t think she has mastitis.

In every other way she is absolutely fine.

Any ideas?

Cheers, Pete

 

[pat kcotnit]

Aye-up,

We got the sheep in today to sort a few groups.

Couldn’t help but notice this shearling ewe. She appears to be in milk. Never been with a ram that we know of, absolutely certainly never had a lamb.

She’s not in pain, the whole group of shearlings were skipping about like loons when we got there. The udder isn’t hot or hard and although the milk looks just slightly watery it’s not rancid or smelly so I don’t think she has mastitis.

In every other way she is absolutely fine.

Any ideas?

Cheers, Pete

That belly looks suspiciously big to me. In the same position you have her press down on her belly carefully and see if you can feel a lamb pressing back.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Did that, thought it was a bit hard, turned two others over, thought they felt the same!!

 

[yellowbelly]

Hmmm @Cab-over Pete , have you got a rig masquerading as a gimmer

Did that, thought it was a bit hard, turned two others over, thought they felt the same!!

Maybe they're all in lamb

 

[mixed breed]

In lamb.. Is whatever your drawing off her sticky?

 

[neilo]

Surely a Hamp ram can’t see to jump a fence?

She does look very much like she’s bagging up to lamb Pete. However, when I was putting CIDRs in my Charollais ewes a few weeks ago, I noticed one of those (that had never limbed before) had bagged up in a similar fashion. I prodded and poked, then scratched my head, in a similar fashion to you I guess, then let her run. 2 weeks later the udder had disappeared, so who knows what caused it.

The bad news was that she didn’t cycle to the induced heat, so maybe a non-breeder for some reason? I’l give her a go with the ram later on, but she’s likely on borrowed time.

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

Had a heifer do that once. She was bought to feed ,but developed a large bag. We waited and waited for her to calve and nothing happened, eventually the vet came for another reason ,and PD her empty . Could that be called a phantom pregnancy ?

 

[spin cycle]

welcome to my world pete

your rams been reading my diary

 

[Cab-over Pete]

In lamb.. Is whatever your drawing off her sticky?

No, just looks like regular milk.

Surely a Hamp ram can’t see to jump a fence?

She does look very much like she’s bagging up to lamb Pete. However, when I was putting CIDRs in my Charollais ewes a few weeks ago, I noticed one of those (that had never limbed before) had bagged up in a similar fashion. I prodded and poked, then scratched my head, in a similar fashion to you I guess, then let her run. 2 weeks later the udder had disappeared, so who knows what caused it.

The bad news was that she didn’t cycle to the induced heat, so maybe a non-breeder for some reason? I’l give her a go with the ram later on, but she’s likely on borrowed time.

Our lads don’t worry about jumping, they just rub and rub and rub their heads or arses on the netting until they staples ping off the posts and they can wander through. It’s amazing what they can achieve in 24 hrs.

However, that’s not been the case here, haven’t had that happen in earnest for two years now.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Hmmm @Cab-over Pete , have you got a rig masquerading as a gimmer

Maybe they're all in lamb

Good god, I hope not!!

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Has it slipped a lamb

 

[Cab-over Pete]

No evidence of that, but possible I suppose

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Bag looks like it’s going off not filling to me but only my opinion

 

[Man_in_black]

Just going on pic, not the info given, I'd say she's drying off after weaning!

 

[Cab-over Pete]

I think I may have noticed that.

 

[primmiemoo]

Would it be worth scanning her/them?

 

[Cab-over Pete]

My lad suggested that, but there are no others showing any sign at all.

If a ram had got in with them he must have been in a maximum of 24 hrs and then had the good foresight to return himself to the others before we noticed. There are no other sheep bordering us at all.

 

[primmiemoo]

Hmmmm. I've yet to see anything like it home here.

Might @Global ovine be kind enough to shed light if there is any, please?

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

My lad suggested that, but there are no others showing any sign at all.

If a ram had got in with them he must have been in a maximum of 24 hrs and then had the good foresight to return himself to the others before we noticed. There are no other sheep bordering us at all.

Had a heifer do that once. She was bought to feed ,but developed a large bag. We waited and waited for her to calve and nothing happened, eventually the vet came for another reason ,and PD her empty . Could that be called a phantom pregnancy ?

^^

 

[Global ovine]

Hmmmm. I've yet to see anything like it home here.

Might @Global ovine be kind enough to shed light if there is any, please?

For mammary development of this order to take place it has to be hormonally driven. Such responses can occur from phyto-oestrogens (eg. naturally occurring in some legumes and some feeds and enhanced in the rumen by the bugs that work there). The phenomenon often referred as "false or phantom pregnancy" can be put down to such occurrences. Generally of no consequence as they come and go, but may interfere with some reproductive treatments where females are being induced to cycle and or ovulate more at a specific cycle.
Apologies for the delayed reply.