On many sheep farms in Australia, when a ewe rejects her lamb, the lamb is classified as a bummer or poddy lamb.
A real case shared by an Australian sheep farmer:
A ewe had twins.
One lamb was strong.
The second one was weak and the mother kept pushing it away.
The farmer took the rejected lamb into the farmhouse, wrapped it in an old jumper, and fed it warm milk every few hours. The lamb slept by the fireplace for a week.
Later, when it joined the flock, that lamb would always run to the farmer first — even when it grew large. It recognized his voice, his footsteps, and even the sound of his ute.
Real-life truth:
Bummer lambs genuinely develop deep attachment to the one who rescued them.