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Sextuplets for 'supermum' sheep Sextuplets for 'supermum' sheep
(about 4 hours later)
A sheep has astounded farm workers in Northumberland by giving birth to six healthy lambs.A sheep has astounded farm workers in Northumberland by giving birth to six healthy lambs.
The sextuplets were born to two-year-old Dolly, a pedigree Lleyn ewe, at Crookham Westfield farm, on the Pallinsburn Estate, Cornhill-on-Tweed.The sextuplets were born to two-year-old Dolly, a pedigree Lleyn ewe, at Crookham Westfield farm, on the Pallinsburn Estate, Cornhill-on-Tweed.
Some of the lambs are being bottle fed because Dolly does not have enough teats for all six.Some of the lambs are being bottle fed because Dolly does not have enough teats for all six.
They have been named Ollie, Valerie, Harriet, Scrappy, Rosie, Chunky and Slim, by the estate owner's sons. They have been named Valerie, Harriet, Scrappy, Rosie, Chunky and Slim, by the estate owner's sons.
Farm worker Mark Richardson, who discovered the newborns on 3 April, said he had never seen so many from a single ewe.Farm worker Mark Richardson, who discovered the newborns on 3 April, said he had never seen so many from a single ewe.
The 30-year-old said: "I just went out one morning and there she was with the six lambs.The 30-year-old said: "I just went out one morning and there she was with the six lambs.
"I looked round the shed and none of the others had lambed, she was the only one, so they all came from her."I looked round the shed and none of the others had lambed, she was the only one, so they all came from her.
"It was a big surprise. Lleyns usually have two or three lambs, so to have six is very unusual. I have never seen it before.""It was a big surprise. Lleyns usually have two or three lambs, so to have six is very unusual. I have never seen it before."
Estate owner George Farr's sons Ollie, 11, and Jamie, 10, are helping feed the three-week-olds.Estate owner George Farr's sons Ollie, 11, and Jamie, 10, are helping feed the three-week-olds.
Lleyn sheep usually only give birth to two or three lambsLleyn sheep usually only give birth to two or three lambs
Ollie said: "Some of them take the bottles more easily than others, so we are feeding three out of the six - the three most tame."Ollie said: "Some of them take the bottles more easily than others, so we are feeding three out of the six - the three most tame."
Jamie said: "They are always hungry. We feed them in the morning at eight, at 12, four, then eight in the evening.Jamie said: "They are always hungry. We feed them in the morning at eight, at 12, four, then eight in the evening.
"They get through a lot of milk.""They get through a lot of milk."
The Lleyn is a Welsh breed of hill sheep renowned for its strength, milk production, and mothering ability.The Lleyn is a Welsh breed of hill sheep renowned for its strength, milk production, and mothering ability.
Lleyn Sheep Society spokesman Lynda Barnard said the last record of sextuplets was in 1996.Lleyn Sheep Society spokesman Lynda Barnard said the last record of sextuplets was in 1996.
She said: "It's not unusual for the breed to produce a lot of lambs but to have six is quite rare.She said: "It's not unusual for the breed to produce a lot of lambs but to have six is quite rare.
"They are terrific mothers. If there was any breed was going to rear six it would be a Lleyn.""They are terrific mothers. If there was any breed was going to rear six it would be a Lleyn."