The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Big Light on June 20, 2013, 05:29:42 pm
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Big belter of a tup lamb with his smaller sister. The ewe lambs horns are relatively un developed would they be described as scurrs if so and does that necessarily mean she will have a top knot?
Dam and sire are both 2 horns with no 4 horn showing on pedigree
thanks
BL
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She looks 2 horned with a small amount of topknot, but definitely not a big one, which I've only seen on multi horned Hebs. It's quite difficult to see whether she has four horns - you would be able to feel them as small bumps, but they would be in a poor position for 4. A multi horned lamb from two supposedly 2 horned parents is vaguely possible if one of the parents has fused horns so they are 4 looking like 2 - it does happen occasionally. I don't think that will be the case if the pedigrees are all 2 horned - genetically 2 horns can't hide 4, whereas 4 can carry (hide) 2. 4 horns are dominant over 2.
To check if her horns are scurs, see if they wobble - be gentle. True scurs are small bits of horn material which don't have a full bony core, just the outer sheath. However, her horns don't look that small so see what they are like after a year.
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Thanks FW parents are definately 2 Horns - no fusing - can only go with the paperwork after that - i will check her when i get a hold of her - maybe just a 2 horn with poor horns or just not grown for some reason - The horns are very much smaller than all the other ewe lambs of the same age who are sticking out 3 inches or so these seem fairly flat and about an inch or less. Was a strange pair tup lamb born v big and ewe lamb quite small in comparison to the rest of this years lambs
cheers
BL