[pikilily]

Hiya All,

I have a ram lamb - one of twins who is hale and hearty barr one thing. His willy is miss-shappen! Instead of the usual 'button' he seems to have what to all intents looks like a ewe lambs vulva but on his belly where his willy should be! He is peeing and dunging well so I dont think he has any internal problems.

Has anyone come across this before? could he be a hermaphrodite? although I know this can be common in cattle, if i am not mistaken it is usually when there is a male and female set of twins. Also lambs have their own blood individual blood supply so the hormones dont get mixed. Anyway he was one of two males....

I am thinking of his future. He will be for the freezer eventually, but in the meantime I am concerned about his skin condition.  When he pees the urine runs all down his hind legs rather than clear to the ground. I think he may end up with nappy rash!!! Obviously I will keep a close eye- and maybe he will have to get used to having the occasional bath. If I thought he was going to have serious problems I would get the vet to check him over...just looking for comments and opinions.
cheers emma T

[Rosemary]

Has anyone come across this before? could he be a hermaphrodite? although I know this can be common in cattle, if i am not mistaken it is usually when there is a male and female set of twins.

Hi there.

The mixed twins in cattle means that the female twin is generally infertile - as far as I know the reproductive organs are fine but the male hormones before birth either prevent her getting pregnant or carrying to full term. It's not hermaphrodite which is carrying both male and female reproductive organs on the same animal (if my Higher Biology serves me at all well)

I've never seem anything like you describe - hopefully others will be able to help and the little fella will be OK.

[Roxy]

Never seen that before, but suppose if its not causing any health problems, it will be ok.

Our Shetland sheep, Bertie, had an accident with the shearer the year before we got him.  No one mentioned there was a castrated tup in with all the ewes, and he set too shearing Bertie .......lets just say poor Bertie had a bit chunk of his willie sheared off.  He now pees through a hole half way up, but he does not seem to mind.  I bet he was in agony after his accident though..

[pikilily]

I have just been out to check the tup lamb again and have noticed he has two scrota too! I havent been able to identify how many balls he has though. Now this then poses another problem. How do i castrate him...i have no way of knowing what else may be abnormal. It may be too much to put two rings on..one is painful enough!!!!! or so i am told.
this may have to be deferred to the vet.
Emma T

[pikilily]

I spoke to my vets and the lamb is a hermaphrodite or locally called a Jenny Willox. He/she mill prob be infertile which is good cos we can castrate using rings. I will have to put udder cream on his legs to protect him from urine scald - but otherwise should not have any problems.
Emma T