The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Azzdodd on June 30, 2013, 07:37:14 pm

Title: Ram lamb with split testicals
Post by: Azzdodd on June 30, 2013, 07:37:14 pm
A late born lamb I was checking them all today he has split testicles? One each side he is destined for the freezer so doesn't matter if he is no good for breeding he is growing really fast so nothing else wrong with him
Title: Re: Ram lamb with split testicals
Post by: Fleecewife on June 30, 2013, 11:50:58 pm
A late born lamb I was checking them all today he has split testicles? One each side he is destined for the freezer so doesn't matter if he is no good for breeding he is growing really fast so nothing else wrong with him

We had a Shetland tup lamb like that years ago.  The vet insisted he was a hermaphrodite, but you could see that he was all male but just with the urethra and scrotum split, so urine dribbled out.  The dribbling was actually the only problem as he did stink and had to be kept clean.  I suppose there would be a greater risk of urinary tract infections, but you should be able to get him to slaughter weight perfectly well.  We found we were unable to put a castration ring on ours, so in theory he could have been fertile, so we weaned him at 4 months and kept him away from any females from that point on, as we had no idea if the condition is heritable.
 
As well as several tasty dinners, he gave us a very cute sheepskin  :sheep:
Title: Re: Ram lamb with split testicals
Post by: Azzdodd on July 01, 2013, 10:20:59 am
That's what I thought cause he/she looks all weird around that area I think I'll either fatten him or sell as a pet
Title: Re: Ram lamb with split testicals
Post by: Fleecewife on July 01, 2013, 11:55:45 am
Very stinky pet but it doesn't affect the taste  :yum:
Title: Re: Ram lamb with split testicals
Post by: shep53 on July 01, 2013, 12:45:15 pm
RARE but it happens, had one this year only the 2nd iv'e ever seen, managed to ring as only the scotal sac was divided . Even rarer iv'e nver seen, had 2 lambs no testicle's at all just an empty sac , different fathers??