[Jacob-list] young ewe with low milk supply

[Kate Barrett]

Hi: I have a 12 month old ewe who delivered a single fine strong ram lamb.
She was very confused as to how to handle the lamb, and this was increased
by an older ewe who decided she would like to keep this lamb for herself.
I finally got the young mother in the lamb jug with her lamb, and she was
not interested in the lamb at all...mostly interested in being with her
own mother.  I keep questioning whether this ewe actually delivered the
lamb in question...but she was the only ewe passing birth
materials...including a placenta shortly after she was jugged,and this was
the only new wet lamb. I have never had a ewe reject her lamb
before...except for one elderly ewe with triplets, which she just couldn't
handle. We are forcibly holding the ewe every two hours for the past 24 to
allow the lamb to feed. She is kind of coming around to the idea, but her
bag is very small and producing very little milk.  I have her on some nice
rich grass alfalfa mix hay, and am afraid to grain her as she has never
had any grain, and I do not want to send her into a mastitis situation
with a sudden onflex of milk.  I supplemented the lamb one feeding
yesterday with frozen colostrum from last year, and the lamb greedily
sucked it down.  He is a strong lamb, and works very hard at getting his
food, but honestly the bag is so small, and when I attempt to milk the ewe
I hardly get anything out at all. I guess if this continues I can try to
graft him on another ewe, and or supplement him. My jacob ewes generally
don't get the massive holstein udders some of the big sheep get...but this
ewe's bag is barely present. All the other ewes seem to be milking
heavily.  Thank you for any help you can offer.
Kate Barrett
Ruby Peak Jacobs.