Peter Wright dealt with a heartbreaking death on the latest episode of The Yorkshire Vet, as he attended a call-out with a devastating prognosis. The 69-year-old was called to check on a ewe that had given birth 12 hours earlier, but the farmer believed she still had more lambs to deliver.
Sadly, Peter revealed that there probably wouldn't be much he could do given the time that had passed. "I understand this chap is very concerned because this ewe gave birth to one lamb last night, approximately 12 hours ago, and now he thinks, after this length of time, there may be more lambs inside. The 12 hours from one lamb to another being born, I tend to fear the worst," he said. "Really, that we may not have any more lambs born alive. All we can do is our best," he sighed.
Rare breed at risk
Adding to the pressure was the fact that the ewe was part of a Norfolk Horn flock, a breed in danger of disappearing. There are currently only around 2,500 registered pedigree Norfolk Horn sheep spread across approximately 79 flocks. The breed is an ancient, rare British heritage breed known for its striking black face, long legs, and large, spiralled horns.
Historically native to the dry heathlands of East Anglia, they are highly hardy, excellent foragers, and celebrated for their strong maternal instincts. "It's a breed that's on the at-risk register. These breeds are somewhere on the verge of extinction. We need that expert advice and opinion and help really to get these lambs out," the farmer confessed.
Devastating outcome
Peter arrived and managed to birth a second lamb, which was alive but obviously weak, and he worked to help it breathe. However, a third lamb delivered shortly afterwards did not fare so well, and was stillborn with no heartbeat in devastating scenes.
While the heartbroken farmer looked on, Peter had to explain that the placenta had separated from the lamb in the womb, meaning it couldn't survive. Despite the tragedy, he had to turn his focus back to the weak but surviving second lamb born as he continued to work on it while the mother and the firstborn sibling looked on.
