Author Topic: Grrr. Shearlings that aren't shearlings! (Read 3245 times)

17AndCounting · « **on:** August 04, 2013, 11:50:30 pm »

Grrr!

The shearer has been today, someone we know, keeps sheep himself. Incidentally he did a nice job, sheep and alpacas much happier now.

Anyway... earlier in the year we bought some 'shearlings' with lambs. It turns out they're almost certainly not shearlings! We didn't get a very close up look at them at the time (we bought them in lamb and didn't want to upset them catching them) and I know it's our fault for not checking them at the time... but I'm still very annoyed about it!

One of then is already losing it's teeth! The other is about 3. Grrr,

Fleecewife · « **Reply #1 on:** August 05, 2013, 01:18:55 am »

Are you sure? Young sheep do lose their teeth so the full sized teeth can grow in. A photo of their mouths would help.

SteveHants · « **Reply #2 on:** August 05, 2013, 07:55:27 am »

Where are the missing teeth - if they are next to each other at the front then its probably a gimmer.

Rosemary · « **Reply #3 on:** August 05, 2013, 09:51:01 am »

I thought there was something wrong with my shearlings the first time I saw them dropping teeth - I KNEW how old they were because I'd bred them but just didn't register that to get adult teeth the baby teeth had to drop out

http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/livestock/sheep/sheeps-teeth/

17AndCounting · « **Reply #4 on:** August 05, 2013, 12:35:34 pm »

The man that sheared them is a very experienced sheep farmer so I'm guessing he knows sheeps teeth, but if I can catch one and take a photo I will post it up for comments.

Pedwardine · « **Reply #5 on:** August 05, 2013, 06:54:46 pm »

I agree with other replies, if they are the very front teeth, they do lose their baby ones. I was a bit horrified when I first saw it happen in my gimmers.