First ever quads of rare 'blacknose' lambs born in UK

05 March 2024 , 14:02

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Three-week-old quadruplet Valais Blacknose lamb (Image: Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS)

The first ever quads of a rare species of 'blacknose' lambs have been born in UK.

Cute pictures show the four Valais Blacknose young that arrived at Whitehall Farm in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Emily Duncan, who runs the farm with her husband, said: "As far as I'm aware they are first quads ever to be born in the UK, it is very unusual." They have been getting lots of attention! There has only been one set born in Germany and one in Sweden before.

"The Valais Blacknose sheep came into the UK in 2015 from Switzerland, from the Valaisarea area - hence their name. We got them late in that year, so very early on." The mother Valais Blacknose sheep, Grace, five, birthed two boys, named Livramento and Larry and two girls, named Lotus and Lily.

Three-week-old quadruplet Valais Blacknose lambs, The first ever quads of the rare species to be born in UK (Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS)

Emily explains how it is not only the colour of the species that make them stand out - but also their friendly temperament. She said: "The species are quite rare so they look different - but they are also exceptionally friendly sheep, which is another reason why people love them so much. So much so that when one was having lambs all the others were cooing and nibbling at my feet.

"They all follow me about, it is a bit exhausting! When the species came to us in 2015, people from all over came to see them. There was even a bus load from Hawaii!" Whitehall Farm is also home to 500 other sheep, as well as Aberdeen angus and Belted Galloway cows, horses, chickens and dogs.

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