Nancy,
Any animal that has both male and female reproductive parts is called
a hermaphrodite. Most of these are sterile, but I suppose it is
possible for them to breed or get bred, depending on what the internal
anatomy is. With characteristics like horns, a mane, and male
breeding behavior, your sheep may be producing testosterone, which
comes from the testicles - so he may have fertile sperm as well - but
if he has a vestigial penis inside the vulva, he will be unable to
breed a female. On the other hand, if he has a normal uterus and
ovaries, and allows himself to be bred, he could get pregnant. Often
much of the internal anatomy is underdeveloped like the external
anatomy, so most of them don't get or stay bred.
Stephanie
Westminster, SC
On Feb 7, 2009, at 1:05 PM, Nancy & Tom Richardson wrote:
Well, heres the story, Last spring I had triplets born, 2 rams and a
ewe so I thought. I bottle fed the ewe. She grew great horns and had
a mane! My husband kept saying are you sure its a ewe, finally I
turned here over no testicals and no penis Gotta be a ewe! We she/it
has been fighting with the ram and trying to breed ewes all winter.
Well we turned her over again, At the back right below the vigina is
a set of tiny testicals and if you open the little vagina a tiny
penis appears. My question will IT have a baby or have I just got a
really weird sheep?? I have never seen or herd of this before. Some
of you long time shepaerds have surely seen this happen. Nancy
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