QUAD lambs for the first time at a farm near Liskeard have brought some spring joy in the lockdown.

Merryn Gillbard said that it was the first time that a ewe had birthed four live lambs during the family’s four generations at Blackadon Farm, Horningtops.

“We scanned all the ewes in December so we knew what to expect. We are used to triplets, but we were quite surprised to have four marked out on the scan,” she said.

“We were nervous because you usually lose one of quads, but they are all fine.

“She was late having them, and they were all a really good size, so she has done well – she was as wide as she was long!”

The chances of a ewe having living quadruplet lambs are rare, estimated at around one in 400, but Merryn says that she’s heard of various flocks around the country this year with healthy multiple births.

Feeding that many lambs is a challenge though for the mother, who only has two teats and a limited milk supply – and for the first few days, the Gillbards alternated bottle feeds for all four lambs, so that all of them would benefit from their mother’s milk.

Now, two of the lambs have continued with the ewe, while two, along with 14 others, are in Merryn’s tame lamb pen, where they have access to warm milk on demand from an automatic feeder.

“This mimics the natural process as they can feed whenever they like 24 hours a day,” said Merryn.

“It’s better for both ewe and lambs that she has two strong lambs with her than four weak ones.”