EWE BEAUTY: Patrick Ashton, 11, (left) and his sister Sophie, 7, with one of the three sets of lamb quads born at their family’s Tarrawarra sheep farm in the past month.By DION TEASDALE
TARRAWARRA’S Ashton family has been breeding sheep for the past 20 years, but never like this.
In the past month, three ewes on their property have given birth to quads.
Sheep breeders Mark and Linda Ashton, who had one set of lamb quads last year, said they were delighted but surprised by the multiple births.
“To get one set of lamb quads last year was unusual, but to get three sets of quads this year is an extremely rare thing,” Mrs Ashton said.
Mr Ashton said the high level of rainfall at the beginning of the mating season was one reason for the high fertility rate.
“The sheep are known as the Coopworth East Friesian breed and they are naturally a very fertile breed of sheep,” he said.
“I also think the good rain we had at the beginning of the lambing season helped the mother’s produce quads.”
The Ashton family manage 500 ewes, which are serviced by seven rams, on their 280acre property Glen Warra.
In addition to the three sets of quads, the ewes on the property have so far produced 30 sets of triplets and 200 sets of twins.
“We are looking at producing close to 800 lambs over a sixweek period this season, which is up on last year,” Mr Ashton said.
