First set of rare sextuplet lambs born in Dorset

What is believed to be the first set of sextuplet lambs were born last week in the west country and are still thriving at Farm Stay UK member Rorie and Rachael Geddes’ farm in Toller Porcorum, Dorset.

SextupletsSpeaking about the sextuplets, Owner of Colesmoor Farm Rorie Geddes, said: “Although we have lots of triplets and quadruplets and the occasional quintuplet from our 300 ewes, we have never heard of a commercial ewe having six good lambs. Mum to the six healthy lambs is a five year old Roussin cross Mule ewe and is pictured with our Vet students Sophie Brown and Hannah Johnstone. She had been pregnancy scanned to have five lambs so it was a nice surprise for Emily, our night time lamber, when a sixth turned up. She will probably rear three of them and the other three will join our other orphan lambs.”

Sextuplets born at Colesmore Farm, DorsetColesmoor Farm in Toller Porcorum near Dorchester, Dorset is a family run working farm with sheep and cattle. An ideal base from which to explore Dorset and reached by its own private road, Rachael provides guests to the bed and breakfast a warm and comfortable welcome. Colesmoor Farm has 110 acres of grass stocked with sheep and cattle and 40 acres of mixed woodland. Guests are most welcome to walk over the farm and woodland and to join Rachael and Rorie on the daily stock inspections.

According to the BBC programme Lambing Live, more than 16 million lambs are born each year in the UK and of these many thousands are born on farm land belonging to Farm Stay UK members. Some of the most stunning farmhouse bed and breakfasts, beautiful cottages and converted barns in the country belong to Farm Stay UK members, and from Cornwall at the start of the year to Scotland in May, lambs will be skipping around the fields and chasing their own kind around in the spring sunshine. Staying on a farm is the best place to spot the antics and Farm Stay UK members are inviting visitors to take part in their own Lamb Watch – children especially are welcome to learn more about lambing and the hard work that sheep farmers undertake every year in spring.

If you would like any more information about Colesmoor Farm please visit www.colesmoorfarm.co.uk