Sheep Terminology
Lambs, hoggs, shearlings, tegs, wedders, wethers, gimmers, ewes, rams, tups - what's what in the world of sheep? There seems to be a plethora of terms, partly depending on what part of the country you are in.
Here's a quick guide to what the most commonly used terms mean (but note that in some parts of the UK there will be different terms used):
- A ewe is a female sheep that has had a lamb.
- A ram is an uncastrated male sheep. Sometimes rams are referred to as tups.
- Lambs are young sheep and are either ewe lambs (female) or ram lambs (male).
- Most male lambs will be castrated at a few days old and become wethers (or wedders, in some parts of the country).
- A young female sheep is a ewe lamb until the autumn after her birth, when she becomes a ewe hogg.
- She remains a ewe hogg until she is shorn for the first time at 14 - 16 months, when she becomes a gimmer.
- She is a gimmer until she lambs and becomes a ewe.
Phew.