The Lambs up the Lane are getting quite big now, but they
still appreciate the value of mother’s milk and are continuing to suckle as
well as grazing. That’s if mother will allow it, of course, and sometimes she
won’t. All she has to do to disallow it is to walk while the lamb is trying to
settle on the teat.
I saw a lamb the other day that was none too pleased at his
mother’s perambulations while he was trying to feed. Eventually he ran ahead of
her, and then turned and charged, butting her hard in the chest to make her
stop. She stopped, but only until the lamb was getting into position, and then
she walked again. The lamb repeated the assault, giving her several butts the
second time. Mother stopped again, but only until kiddo found his place, and
then she walked again.
This behaviour went on and on until the ewe reached the
other side of the field where her second lamb was. And then she let them both feed.
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