Exciting news from the UK as the first-ever quadruplets of a rare breed of ‘blacknose’ lambs make their debut!
Adorable photographs capture the four Valais Blacknose youngsters who recently arrived at Whitehall Farm in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Emily Duncan, alongside her husband, manages the farm and expressed, “As far as I’m aware, they are the first quads ever to be born in the UK, which is very unusual.” Unsurprisingly, the lambs have been the center of attention, drawing admiration from all who encounter them. Prior to this, only one set of quadruplets had been born in Germany and one in Sweden.
“The Valais Blacknose sheep made their way to the UK in 2015 from Switzerland, specifically from the Valais area, hence their name,” explained Duncan. “We acquired them late in that year, so this is a very early occurrence.” The proud mother, Grace, aged five, successfully birthed two boys, Livramento and Larry, along with two girls, Lotus and Lily.
Emily highlights that it’s not just the striking appearance of the Valais Blacknose sheep that sets them apart, but also their exceptionally friendly demeanor. She remarked, “These sheep are quite rare, so their unique appearance catches the eye, but it’s their friendly nature that truly captures people’s hearts. They’re so friendly that when one was in labor, the others were cooing and nibbling at my feet.”
She continued, “They all tend to follow me around, which can be a bit overwhelming at times! Since the arrival of these sheep in 2015, they’ve attracted visitors from far and wide. We’ve had people coming from all over to see them, including a busload from Hawaii!”
In addition to the Valais Blacknose sheep, Whitehall Farm is home to a diverse array of animals, including 500 other sheep, Aberdeen Angus and Belted Galloway cows, horses, chickens, and dogs.