mismotheringn.
/mɪsˈmʌðərɪŋ/, U.S. /ˌmɪsˈməðərɪŋ/, New Zealand English /mɪsˈmʌðərɪŋ/ Agriculture (originally New Zealand).
The mistaken attachment of a lamb to a ewe that is not its own mother.
ΚΠ
1922 W. Perry et al. Sheep Farming in N.Z. 94 Any undue disturbance of the [Merino] ewes at this time will result in much mis-mothering of lambs.
1950 Chambers's Jrnl. 174/1 The confusion and loss incurred by overcrowding and mis-mothering was heavy.
1991 Merck Vet. Man. (ed. 7) v. 1123 A bonding period of at least 24–36 hr in small pens or cubicles, as well as branding of ewes and lambs, is recommended to avoid subsequent mismothering problems.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1922