Four-year-old ewe produces 18.1kg of lambs in single crop
A New Zealand Highlander ewe has given birth to a healthy set of quintuplet lambs on a Somerset farm, helping to lift an already high lambing percentage.
A rare sight in itself, the five lambs came as even more of a surprise to farmer Tom Heal at Dawlea Farm, Storgursey in the Quantock Hills, as when scanned, the ewe had only shown to be carrying quadruplets.
“We thought she was due to have four lambs and so were quick to assist with the lambing, but ended up pulling all five off,” said Mr Heal.
See also: Expert advice for a successful lambing
Put to a Texel sire, the New Zealand Highlander ewe produced a crop of lambs weighing in at over 18kg.
While most lambings of this size would see mortalities, all lambs were born alive, weighing 2.75kg, 2.90kg, 3.55kg, 3.70kg and 5.20kg and were all doing well.
Words and pictures
If you have a notable lambing story to tell, or photos of lambing in action, then we’d love to hear from you. Please email your words and pictures to Farmlife editor Tim Relf at tim.relf@rbi.co.uk
The full-mouth ewe was just one of Mr Heal’s 300-head flock on the 97ha farm stretching across the Quantocks.
The prolificacy seen was not unusual for this breed – or the ewe herself, he said. “This is her third lambing and her previous crops have all been twins and triplets. Interestingly, this year we have seen the New Zealand Highlanders really thrive, with lots of them producing triples and quads.”
The ewe had taken to the lambs very well, added Mr Heal. “We took one away to put on a single and you could see her counting them all up – she has got great mothering qualities.
“This is my third year lambing under my own tenancy and it is a real treat to see such a rare sight.”