Image source, Farmer Palmer’s
Farm manager Sandra Palmer-Snellin said staff were very happy to now have ‘Shalais’ sheep.
Two rare breed lambs were born at a petting farm after a ewe jumped into a ram pen.
Breeder Palmer’s from Poole, Dorset, discovered the “happy surprise” after one of the Shetland ewes entered the Valais rams’ enclosure.
Director Sandra Palmer-Snellin explained that the breeds do not generally mix and are not part of a breeding program.
She added that the farm staff were very happy to now have “Shalais” sheep.
Image source, Farmer Palmer’s
The farm said the lambs were a ‘happy surprise’
Image source, Farmer Palmer’s
The farm runs breeding programs every year, but the Shalais lambs arrived unexpectedly.
Farmer Palmer’s was once a working dairy farm, but 25 years ago the family decided to make a change and become a children’s attraction.
The farm runs breeding programs every year, but the Shalais lambs arrived unexpectedly.
Ms Palmer-Snellin explained: “We have a number of different types of sheep and goats.
“The Valais are quite impressive sheep, with a black face and a beautiful thick fleece.
“The Shetland sheep are kept in a separate enclosure but one of the females must have been full of the joys of spring and quite determined.”
The ewe, who has no name, jumped the fence and because she is smaller than the Valais ram – named Hank – who fathered the lambs, she was not spotted straight away by staff.
Image source, Farmer Palmer’s
The Shetland ewe mated with a Valais ram named Hank
Ms Palmer-Snefflin continued: “It only takes a few hours for the deed to be done, so we didn’t realize until a few weeks ago she gave birth to the cutest little lambs.
“They are so gentle that they look a bit like calves because of the mix of breeds.
She adds: “We had not planned to reunite the parents but nature found its way and we were very pleasantly surprised by the beauty of the lambs. The ewe is a very proud mother.”
The farm is now holding a competition to name the new arrivals and their mothers.