[Pedwardine]

Have just taken Jolly's twin ewe lambs from her. They weren't suckling very much, just a token go now and then but have noticed today her udders are still fairly big. Would you attempt to milk her? Worried a little about mastitis esp as the grass is still pretty decent.

[Old Shep]

can you get her to poorer ground?  is the udder hard? If not I wouldn't milk her but I don't pretend to be an expert - so hope someone more experienced comes along soon.

[mowhaugh]

I wouldn't milk her, it will just encourage her to keep producing milk , which will prolong the problem.  Do you have any poorer grass she can go on? Or if you are really worried, somewhere indoors, but still with plenty of room to move about, where she could just have hay or good straw?  It is normal for them to be bigger, even though the lambs haven't been suckling much, she is still used to producing that much milk and it's going nowhere - it should just be reabsorbed, and I'm sure she will be fine, just keep an eye for any lumps/heat/swelling.

[ZaktheLad]

I have a couple of ewes that are like this every year and whilst the majority of my other ewes dry up quickly and their udders shrink back, these two seem to keep quite a large udder for some time.  I have never has any issues with mastitis with them though - I think it's just they way they are.

[Pedwardine]

Thanks guys, have provided hay as well as grass and she's tucking in nicely. She's always been rather generously proportioned so prob looks bigger as her teats are fairly large. Will keep an eye on her. I'm glad of advice not to milk as I may well have tried otherwise.