Ewe wouldn’t believe it: Mother’s record breaking magnificent seven lambs
A EWE has given birth to seven lambs in what is believed to be a British record.
Amanda Balsdon and daughter Mel with the lucky seven
Ian and Amanda Balsdon, and their daughter Mel, were amazed to see the Texel-cross deliver six healthy lambs within half an hour at their farm in Devon.
After leaving the mother to bond with her mini-fl ock, they returned to fi nd she had given birth to two more, one of which was stillborn.
The odds of a ewe giving birth to seven surviving lambs are thought to be more than a million to one.
Mel, who helps run the family farm in Hatherleigh, said: “We’ve been looking online and we can’t see any record of more lambs born to a single ewe.
“It is pretty amazing. We’re really impressed with the size of the lambs. We’re used to seeing smaller premature lambs but these are a good size, considering she was carrying eight.
"They all seem to be doing well.”
The ewe is part of a 900-strong mixed flock at the farm.