A ewe has managed to defy million-to-one odds to successfully give birth to six lambs on a Co Cavan farm this week. The exceptional birth made for an eventful weekend on the farm of Anthony Quinn in Derryhum.
The pure-bred ewe gave birth to the male lamb first, which she delivered herself, however Anthony had to step in and pull the five females that followed Anthony said the ewe was big so they expected twins or maybe triplets but certainly not sextuplets.
The seven-year-old ewe called Hilda is exhausted but the six lambs, who were born three weeks premature, are doing well. "They are strong enough now to suckle on bottles standing up and this is their second full day on formula.
"We tried to get a hand held milking machine but there was none really for two or three ewes. We decided we would have to go to formula because they weren't strong enough for the foster ewes which would have been ideal," added Anthony.
