[colliewoman]

My smallest lamb, Venus is tiny compared to the others.
She was a hung lamb and didn't get colostrum down her in time (mum's milk didn't come in properly for nearly a week she had such a rough time )
I am sure the only reason she survived is because one of my goats kidded the same day and let her latch on and get goat colostrum.


She has always been smaller, and is the first to get squitty. She is also the only sheep of mine ever to get strike


However, she seems to have turned a corner... I am hoping that she will catch up next spring!

[Foobar]

I think the fat belly would indicate that the rumen isn't functioning at its optimum, probably because she lacked something whilst she was young. I've had one like that but a year later she looks just like the others. I would just give her tlc over winter, plenty of hay and a steady dose of concentrates to keep her growing. Slow and steady, come spring she'll put a spurt on.

[ScotsGirl]

Just a point to add about soil testing.  I recently had ours done and it was in good condition however they did mention that to tell if grass is taking up the minerals a further test on the grass would be needed.  Supposedly ground can have copper etc but it won't always be taken up by plants.