Sheep shot while pregnant gives birth to lambs

A sheep that was shot last year while pregnant has successfully given birth.

The shooting happened at Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm, near Ipswich, in September, but the offender has yet to be caught.

The sheep suffered injuries to her leg and farm manager Kate Ockelton feared the stress would lead to her losing her pregnancy.

Ms Ockelton said the sheep gave birth to healthy twin lambs on Sunday.

"She is an incredible mother and she and her twins are doing very well," Ms Ockelton said.

The farm posted a photo of the sheep with her lambs on social media, and added: "She's a very proud mummy."

Ms Ockelton said following the shooting the sheep was kept on antibiotics and painkillers for just over a week and she did not reabsorb her pregnancy from the stress as first feared.

"Once returned to the flock it took a long time for the herd to trust us again and we had difficulty when rounding them up to move them, even food wasn't tempting enough to come near us," she said.

The farm manager said the herd had still not completely recovered from the incident.

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