[Jacob-list] False pregnancy

[Jacobflock at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/3/01 7:46:17 PM Central Daylight Time, djspin at vtc.net 
writes:

<< My experience with genetics this year has been interesting, but
 disappointing. I crossed my two jacob/cormo ewes (who look like jacobs)
 with a double registered white romney ram who carries the colored gene.
 He is pure white; his twin was pure black. I had hoped for a lamb with
 jacob spots in the mix. One of my ewes had a false pregnancy. >>

What is a false pregnancy?  Does this mean it was barren (not pregnant) but 
had some physiological signs (enlarged belly or bagged up at some time in 
sympathy with a pregant ewe) or was pregnant but had a reabsorption or 
pre-term abortion for some reason?  Does the corpus luteum start some 
physiological processes that do not stop?  I've heard the term used before 
but honestly do not know what it really is.

Fred Horak