Lambs Archives - Am Paipear

Last night this ewe gave birth to the five lambs pictured above. Photo: Angela Campbell

A sheep on North Uist delivered a surprise last night…giving birth to five lambs!

Quintuplets are incredibly rare in sheep. However, the set born in Dunskellar yesterday evening are all healthy and strong.

Crofter Iain MacDonald and his daughter Joan could hardly contain their amazement earlier today, as the ewe stepped outside for the first time with her unexpectedly large new family in tow.

Alison (5) taking one of the lambs for a feed this afternoon. Photo: Angela Campbell

Joan was doing her rounds through the fields at 8.30pm last night when she noticed the Cheviot X ewe – which was scanned in triplets – had delivered the first of her lambs.

“I decided to leave her alone,” said Joan, “to give her some space while she lambed the second.

“I called back to see her after checking all the other sheep and she had given birth to the second lamb. So then I got the trailer to take her inside.

“Once we reached the shed and penned her up, the third lamb literally fell out of her. Then, we found a fourth in the trailer.”

However, the ewe was not yet finished with her surprises.

When she was checked again at 11.30pm, a fifth lamb was discovered in the pen.

Kate (8), Orla (10), Eoghain (13), Iain (10) and Alison (5) with the quintuplets and their mother. Photo: Angela Campbell

A quick look around the shed confirmed the fifth member of the family wasn’t another ewe’s lamb that had wandered over by mistake. Ever since, mother and babies have been doing fine.

“We don’t know how often this occurs,” added Joan. “I don’t think we’ve heard of any sheep around here having five lambs before.”

All five Suffolk X lambs are thriving and well sized given the number in the set. However, one half of their mother’s udder was found to be deficient, meaning four of the lambs will be adopted shortly.

Iain (10) feeding one of the lambs alongside Joan MacDonald. Photo: Angela Campbell

“This is her third lambing,” said Joan, “she’s about five years old.

“She’s quite a character in the flock, always standing up to the dog when we gather them all in.

“It’s a shame her udder isn’t right, but she’ll be able to raise one of the lambs.”

Orla (10) feeding one of the quintuplets. Photo: Angela Campbell

For the moment, Joan and a group of young helpers are assisting the ewe feed her five lambs.

Eoghain (13), Orla (10), Iain (10), Kate (8) and Alison (5) were having a great time helping the sheep look after her special delivery earlier today.

The ewe and her five lambs out and about this afternoon. Photo: Angela Campbell

Lambs going through the ring at Lochmaddy Auction Mart last week.

LOCHBOISDALE SALE – Friday 5^th September 2014

United Auctions held their opening sale of 2487 lambs & sheep at Lochboisdale Auction Mart. A good offering of lambs sold in keeping with current mainland trends. Short keeping lambs were down in values on the year which is in keeping with current levels prevailing throughout the country for prime sheep. However, longer keeping lambs sold more readily and the overall sale average of £41.71 proved to be £4 per head back on the corresponding sale last year.

PRINCIPAL LOTS & PRICES:

LAMBS

SUFFx: £62.50 – 18 West Gerinish : £62.00 – 409B Smerclate : £61.50 – 15 Carinish : £60.50 – 330 North Boisdale : £60.00 – 269 Daliburgh : £59.50 – 409/410 Smerclate : £58.50 – 6 Rhughasinish : £58.00 – 6 Frobost : £57.50 – 348 North Boisdale & 409B Smerclate : £55.50 – 287

TEXx: £63.00 – 31 Aird : £60.50 – 119 Craigston, Barra : £58.50 – 15 Carinish : £55.50 – 11 Carinish.

BELTx: £62.00 – 6 Rhughasinish : £57.50 – 18 West Gerinish.

CROSS: £63.50 – 356 South Boisdale : £58.00 – 391 Garrynamonie : £57.50 – 383 Garrynamonie & 391 Garrynamonie.

CHEVx: £41.50 – 255 Daliburgh.

CHAx: £53.50 – 414 Smerclate.

MULE: £65 & £50.50 – 123 Craigston, Barra.

BF: £49.50 – 17 Torlum : £46.50 – 32 Liniclate : £42.00 – 271 Daliburgh : £40.50 – 12 Ardvenish, Barra.

EWES

SUFFx: £61.00 – 269 Daliburgh : £50.00 & £40.50 – 271 Daliburgh.

CROSS: £40.00 – 383 Garrynamonie & 391 Garrynamonie.

BF: £36.00 – Ardnasruban, Grimsay.

WEDDERS

£54 – 271 Daliburgh: £38 – 8 Penineirine.

LOCHMADDY SALE – Wednesday 3^rd September 2014

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd sold 4,000 store lambs. Lambs (4,000) sold to £70 per head for Texel crosses from 1 Knockline, Bayhead.

“An increased entry due to a larger percentage of twin lambs were shown in lesser bloom than usual resulting in an overall average decrease of £6.46.”

PRIZE LIST:

Cheviot lambs –

1^st A Macpherson, 24 Liniclate, £61;

2^nd S MacVicar, 12 Locheport, £58.

BF lambs –

1^st J M MacDonald, Sidinish, £44;

2^nd D J MacDonald, 3 Island Flodda, £41.

Suffolk cross lambs –

1^st Melanie Maclean, 12 Rathad Mhic Eion, £64;

2^nd A MacDonald, Crois Moraig, £63.50.

Continental cross lambs –

1^st H MacDonald, 1 Knockline, £70;

2^nd H MacDonald, 3 Hosta, £66.50.

LEADING PRICES PER HEAD:

WEDDER LAMBS

TexX – 3 Hosta, Tigharry, £66.50, 3 Claddach, Kirkibost, £61, 1 Knockline, Bayhead, £59.50;

SuffX – 18 Illeray, Baleshare & 3 Hosta, £65, 8 Aird, Benbecula & 7/8 Gramsdale, Benbecula £64, Crois Moirag, Clachan, £63.50;

Chev – 12 Locheport, Carinish, £58, 4 Knockline, Bayhead, £57.50, 2/3 Clachan Sands, Lochmaddy, £55.50;

BeltX – 34 Liniclate, Creagorry, £57;

Cross – Templeside, Carinish, £56, 8 Carinish, Isle of North Uist, £55, 2 Balranald, Lochmaddy & 8 Carinish, £55.

EWE LAMBS

Chev – 24 Liniclate, Benbecula, £61, 20 Balemore, Bayhead, £56, Blachaval Cottage, Lochmaddy, £55.50;

TexX – Kyles Flodda, Benbecula, £59, 1 Knockline, Bayhead & 5 Gramsdale, Benbecula, £55, 15 Kallin, Benbecula, £54;

Cross – 29 Ardivachaiair, Eochar, £43.50, £42.50.

Ewe wouldn’t believe it! Sheep gives birth to five lambs

Local lamb prices down in line with mainland centres

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