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Farmer's shock as sheep gives birth to seven lambs - one shy of world record
TL;DR
A North Yorkshire farmer experienced a surprise when his sheep gave birth to seven lambs, just one short of the world record. This event is considered incredibly rare, as most ewes typically have twins or triplets.
Key points
- A North Yorkshire farmer witnessed a sheep giving birth to seven lambs.
- Seven lambs is just one shy of the world record.
- Most ewes usually give birth to twins or triplets.
A North Yorkshire farmer said it was "amazing" after a sheep gave birth to seven healthy lambs - just one shy of a world record.
Ben Frankland, 23, who farms in Newby near Stokesley, said he was shocked when the ewe delivered the rare septuplets last week.
While twins and triplets are common during lambing season, seven lambs being born to one ewe is said to be "incredibly rare".
In 2021, a ewe in Scotland gave birth to eight live lambs, believed to be a UK record.
According to Guinness World Records, the record for the most lambs born in a single confinement is also eight.
The feat was first recorded in New Zealand in 1991, before it was equalled by a ewe in Sweden in 1994.
Frankland first found the ewe with three lambs, and when he returned to check on her, he saw there were two more.
He said: "I moved her to a slightly bigger pen to stop her from sitting on them, but she was still looking a bit sad, so I thought I'd best have a look.
"There were two more in there, so seven lambs altogether.
"It's just ridiculous to be honest. I don't know where they all were fitting."
Five of the lambs are now being bottle-fed in a neighbouring pen, while two remain with their mother, who Frankland described as "knackered" after the birth.
"For a good couple of days afterwards she was just sitting about not looking herself really, but she's come to now and she's doing pretty well," he said.
"Everyone just thinks it's amazing and is surprised that they're all actually OK, they're all well."
Katie James from the National Sheep Association said the birth was "incredibly rare".
She said: "Seven lambs is absolutely amazing, particularly as all have been born healthy at full-term."
The birth comes after five lambs were born to one ewe at a farm on the Swinton Estate, near Masham, last month.
Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Q&A
What is the world record for the most lambs born at once?
The world record for the most lambs born in a single confinement is eight.
Where did the sheep give birth to seven lambs?
The sheep gave birth to seven lambs in Newby, near Stokesley, North Yorkshire.
How common is it for ewes to give birth to seven lambs?
It is incredibly rare for ewes to give birth to seven lambs, as most typically have twins or triplets.
