Amanda Owen has revealed a tragic death on her Yorkshire farm after her children found a lamb they thought had died in suspicious circumstances. The Our Yorkshire Farm star, known as the Yorkshire Shepherdess, shared the news in an Instagram update on Tuesday.
Children's 'murder' suspicion
Speaking from the cab of a tractor, Owen said her children had been out with the dogs and discovered one of the spotty lambs dead. They believed it had been killed, with Owen saying they thought it was 'murder'.
However, she explained that the death was actually due to bloat, a condition where the animal blows up and pops. Owen said the symptoms are 'pretty obvious really', and that the lamb had succumbed to the condition for no particular reason.
Possible causes and aftermath
Owen speculated that the weather, rain, and regrowth of grass might have contributed, but noted that it doesn't happen to many lambs. She added that something had come along and had a little munch at the carcass, probably carrion such as ravens or crows.
She said the lamb had not been there long, as with the warm weather, carcasses quickly become a 'very green grassy place'. Owen expressed annoyance but acknowledged that with livestock, 'you've got dead stock', and bloat is one of those things that can't be prevented.
True reflection of farm life
Owen defended her decision to share the incident, stressing that she aims to give a 'true reflection' of what's going on. She said she puts up many pictures of life on the farm and always likes to think she presents things as they are.
The former Channel 5 star now co-presents Channel 4's Our Farm Next Door.
