Sheep terminology

Question 1

tup

Answer 1

breeding male/ram

Question 2

ewe

Answer 2

breeding female who has had more than one crop of lambs

Question 3

tupping

Answer 3

mating of a ram and a ewe

Question 4

gimmer

Answer 4

female ewe lamb from first shearing to give birth

Question 5

ewe lamb

Answer 5

female lamb destined for breeding >1 year

Question 6

shearling

Answer 6

a lamb (usually destined for breeding) after the first shear (1-2 years old)

Question 7

fat/finished lambs

Answer 7

lambs that are finished and ready for slaughter within a year from birth

Question 8

hogg/hogget

Answer 8

a lamb destined for meat that is between 1-2 years old

Question 9

barren

Answer 9

ewes that don’t become pregnant after being tupped (usually sold)

Question 10

broken-mouthed

Answer 10

a sheep which has lost/broken teeth (usually >6 years old)

Question 11

draft ewe

Answer 11

older breeding ewe, sold off hills to lower ground where conditions are less challenging

Question 12

teaser

Answer 12

a vasectomised ram, placed among ewes to encourage onset of oestrus

Question 13

mules

Answer 13

cross-bred sheep