The common term for a baby sheep is a lamb. This term is foundational in agriculture, where sheep are raised globally for their meat, wool, and milk. The animal’s name changes frequently as it grows, reflecting its age, gender, and reproductive status within the flock. Understanding these specific terms provides a clearer picture of the animal’s role in the farming cycle.
The Name for a Baby Sheep
The term lamb refers to a young sheep generally from birth until it is weaned, or often until it reaches approximately 10 to 12 months of age. The act of a female sheep giving birth to a lamb is known as lambing.
During this initial stage, the lamb is entirely dependent on its mother for nourishment and protection. Producers may also use the more specific terms ewe lamb for a young female and ram lamb for a young male before they reach maturity. A lamb’s identity is defined by its age and reliance on maternal care.
How Sheep Terminology Changes with Age
As a sheep matures beyond its first year, its terminology becomes more specific, reflecting its transition from youth to adulthood. A sheep between the ages of one and two years is often broadly called a yearling. This term is sometimes interchanged with hogget, which refers to a sheep between weaning and its first shearing, or roughly 1-2 years old.
The definitive adult terms are based on gender and whether the male has been castrated. An adult female sheep, usually over two years of age, is known as a ewe. The uncastrated adult male, kept for breeding purposes, is called a ram, though the British term tup is also used.
A male sheep that has been castrated is named a wether. Wethers are generally less aggressive than rams and are raised primarily for meat or wool production. These precise classifications are important for farm management, helping to distinguish animals based on their function.
Key Developmental Traits of Lambs
Lambs exhibit a precocial nature, meaning they are born relatively mature and can stand and walk shortly after birth. This rapid mobility is a survival mechanism, allowing the young animal to keep up with the flock and avoid predators.
Lambs rely on the mother’s milk, or suckling, for the first few months before transitioning to solid food. Weaning marks the shift from a milk-based diet to grazing, where the lamb’s multi-compartment stomach, characteristic of a ruminant, fully develops to digest fibrous plant matter.
Lambs grow at a high rate. The wool produced by a young lamb is fine, with a smaller fiber diameter compared to the coarser wool of an older sheep.