[tommytink]

I bought in a yearling ewe and discovered she has a little udder. As I was only looking at yearlings I didn’t think too much about their udders, plus  she’s a native breed so not the sort I would’ve expected to have been put in lamb as a ewe lamb. It doesn’t look like a post-lambing deflating udder. It doesn’t really look like a coming into milk udder either… Any ideas? They’re equal size, not hot/lumpy, soft, no sign of discomfort when I touch them. She’s not overweight. Could this be a hormonal coming of age type thing? I know I’ve been told they can develop changes, a bit like puberty, as I’ve had one or two before that have bled a little, like starting their period almost, and been told this is nothing to be worried about. Wondered if this could be a similar thing. 

[SallyintNorth]

My money's on she's had a lamb - or is about to...

[Buttermilk]

Could she have been grazing clover, it has that effect on some of mine.

[SallyintNorth]

any developments?

[messyhoose]

ive got natives and my yearling ewe lamb has a wee udder as does my 10 yo unbred ewe- i thinks its cos i feed them too much! Last year vet squeezed 10yos teat and clear liquid came out. But it isnt hot, doesnt hurt, isnt mastitic so best practice is to leave alone as opening the teat can actually introduce infection. I think your ewe may just have been a well fed little lass, if you are worried about pregnancy surely a vet can do ultrasound, but i think it is v unlikely and totally out of season- even for a young sheep who often can lamb a lot later than older yowes)

[SallyintNorth]

if you are worried about pregnancy surely a vet can do ultrasound, but i think it is v unlikely and totally out of season- even for a young sheep who often can lamb a lot later than older yowes

I have a Shetland tup, and the following is his list of out-of-season lambs since he's been here :

- early August on 4yo maiden ewe (1/4 Icelandic 1/4 Dutch Texel 1/2 Shetland (ewe had hernia, wasn't meant to be bred)
- late August on "retired" experienced black Wensleydale ewe (ewe retired due udder one-sided, thankfully only had single lamb)
- early October on experienced but empty that year Manx Loaghtan ewe
- end July on maiden ewe (empty on her first attempt) 3/4 Shetland 1/4 BFL

He is a very diligent tup