Can ewe believe it? Farmer welcomes five new additions with spring in his step

A farmer didn’t expect such a handful when one of his sheep went into labour.

He couldn’t believe his eyes when the ewe delivered four lambs — or so he thought.

When he checked again, he found yet another leg sticking out.

Against all odds, it was a fifth lamb — regarded as a once-in-a-million happening.

“I never saw five — I’d heard of it but nobody around here ever saw it before,” said Co Galway farmer Brendan Griffin.

He farms cattle and sheep at Masonbrook, outside Loughrea town. The multiple births, he said, caused great excitement on the family farm.

Ewes usually give birth to between one and three lambs at a time. Four lambs are unusual — but five is exceptionally rare.

The expectant mother was taken into the lambing shed as her time for delivery came near and the entire operation went smoothly from start to finish.

“She stood for four and I was busy with them,” said Brendan. “But whatever way I looked at her I found an extra leg and the fifth came. I never knew of it happening.”

The multiple lambing took place last weekend and Brendan’s wife Carmel has been helping to look after the newcomers.

“All are doing fine and the mother is great too,” said Brendan.

The mother is now aged 4 and at peak fertility for a ewe.

To date, she has produced 10 lambs in three seasons, having two last year and three in 2012.

“She is almost managing to feed the five all by herself, but we are helping her with milk in the morning and evening,” said Brendan.

“She’s doing OK right now, but I expect she’ll need more of a hand as they begin to grow a bit.”

He now plans to hold on to two of the ewes, while the rams are destined for sale.