The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: lizzypeg on September 16, 2014, 05:53:23 pm

Title: can a ewe get an udder if not pregnant? as one of mine is now
Post by: lizzypeg on September 16, 2014, 05:53:23 pm
do ewes develope a small udder at any time if not pregnant? mine is now and hasnt been with a ram....

its deffinately filling as now both teats are dangling down with fluid in them and when viewed from the rear look like a pair of small testicles hanging there????????????

Title: Re: can a ewe get an udder if not pregnant? as one of mine is now
Post by: Marches Farmer on September 16, 2014, 06:30:35 pm
What breed?  Any rams nearby?  I've known a mountain sheep jump a 5 ft sheeted gate and three hedges to get to a ewe.  And a mountain ewe jump two fences and back again to get to a ram .....
Title: Re: can a ewe get an udder if not pregnant? as one of mine is now
Post by: lizzypeg on September 16, 2014, 06:33:56 pm
shes an easycare, i put a wiltshire horn lamb ram born this april in with them last week but surely even if he has covered her already , which hes shown no interest in doing yet , then she wouldnt be showing a bag yet? i got her in jan and until last week had no rams about anywhere nearby...
Title: Re: can a ewe get an udder if not pregnant? as one of mine is now
Post by: Hevxxx99 on September 16, 2014, 06:44:56 pm
Do you have much clover in your field?  No idea if happens with ewes, but two of my mares have been running milk on and off all summer, probably because of the clover in the sward. I asked a vet about it and he thought that was a reasonable explaination.  Apparently clover has an oestrogen-like substance in it (I think..) and can cause lactation.

Alternatively, maybe it's mastitis? Does she seem well?
Title: Re: can a ewe get an udder if not pregnant? as one of mine is now
Post by: lizzypeg on September 16, 2014, 06:50:24 pm
shes fine in herself and its only the start of an udder, have a sheep farmer next door but hes not put his ram out yet either....the other one she came with in janurary still has tiny tight teats close to body. we dont have clover in field really but grass is growing well.....
Title: Re: can a ewe get an udder if not pregnant? as one of mine is now
Post by: Buttermilk on September 16, 2014, 06:52:34 pm
I have zwartbles and have had a couple of shearlings with udders this autumn.
Title: Re: can a ewe get an udder if not pregnant? as one of mine is now
Post by: lizzypeg on September 16, 2014, 07:40:44 pm
shes a shearling so may be just hormones i guess
Title: Re: can a ewe get an udder if not pregnant? as one of mine is now
Post by: Old Shep on September 16, 2014, 08:08:57 pm
Is she fairly fat? It sometimes happens with "over condition".
Title: Re: can a ewe get an udder if not pregnant? as one of mine is now
Post by: lizzypeg on September 16, 2014, 08:27:17 pm
not overly fat no and no difference in condition to the other one whos same age/breed and whos teats look normal.
Title: Re: can a ewe get an udder if not pregnant? as one of mine is now
Post by: Anke on September 16, 2014, 08:41:12 pm
she will just be a milky girl, seen in goatlings all the time, even in kids.
Title: Re: can a ewe get an udder if not pregnant? as one of mine is now
Post by: polly_men on September 16, 2014, 09:13:06 pm
I would check that it's not hard or black as it could be mastitis
Title: Re: can a ewe get an udder if not pregnant? as one of mine is now
Post by: budwhit on September 19, 2014, 09:02:52 pm
I know what you are going through - I have a 9 year old Shetland who has never been in lamb and she is bagged up with milk with no sign of mastitis and is very well in herself.   My vet thinks it must be hormones and once the colder weather comes she should dry up - I hope this will happen.