Septuplets Born To Finnsheep Ewe

Septuplets Born To Finnsheep Ewe AG WORLD Murray and Colleen Peck knew by her size that their Finnsheep ewe Trina would be prolific this spring Still the Snoqualmie Wash couple didn’t expect Trina to deliver seven healthy lambs when she gave birth on March 25 It’s the third time in Trina’s maternal line that a ewe has had that many lambs Though not a record eight in the U S and nine in Finland it’s rare even for Finnsheep The Pecks chose the breed in part because they’re known for multiple births and their smaller size makes them easier to handle They also have unique markings “I like the colors I’m a sucker for piebald animals ” Colleen says Since she sells fleeces to local spinners she also appreciates the luster and color in the breed’s fine wool She was rewarded with plenty of piebald this spring when Trina’s babies doubled her flock of six ewes and one ram When born the lambs ranged in size from 3 to 5 6 lbs After making sure all received colostrum from the mother the Pecks bottlefed lamb milk replacer to the smallest four lambs one male and three females – who also managed to drink from the ewe occasionally The three biggest males received all their milk from the ewe By July 14 the lambs ranged in weight from 46 to 75 lbs and were doing well Because of their small property size less than 2 acres of pasture the Pecks keep their flock small and they only bred the one ewe – not expecting her to have septuplets “I do want to share the genetics for prolificacy the trait that makes Finnsheep so special ” Peck says noting she sold a few lambs and has listed the others on Craigslist $350 each When she started with her first ewes in 2008 she worried that their fleeces might not hold up well in the rainy Northwest where their farm receives about 80 in precipitation a year But it turns out that Finnsheep have a natural dislike of rain and are smart enough to seek cover in the barn “Finnsheep are perfect for small holdings because they are friendly and smaller and you get to know them as individuals ” Peck says “They have wonderful feet so we only have to trim hooves once a year even though our ground is often soggy ” For more information on the breed check out the Finnsheep Breeders’ Association website www finnsheep org Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Murray and Colleen Peck 36116 S E 89th Place Snoqualmie Wash 98065 ph 425 888-3290; ovina@aol com

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