The Brand family of Searsboro added new baby lambs to the fold after son, Braxton’s, commercial ewe delivered quintuplets during the early hours of Sunday, Feb. 27. The family is shown with the commercial ewe being held by dad, Cory, that delivered the quintuplets. Behind him, from left, are Breckyn, Braxton, Brooks, Heidi and Briar. By J.O. Parker
“They just kept coming,” said Heidi Brand as she shared the excitement of her son, Braxton’s, four-year-old commercial ewe delivering not one, two or even three lambs, but quintuplets (five lambs). “They have grown so much,” she added, as the family gathered around the new lambs a few days later. Heidi and her husband, Cory, and their four children, Braxton, 14; Breckyn, 12; Brooks, 10; and Briar, 8, have been raising and showing sheep for five years. The family has 27 sheep, 25 ewes and two rams, on their rural Searsboro farm. The miracle birth happened shortly after 2 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26. Breckyn, who volunteers to keep an eye on the livestock cameras during birthing season, noticed that two ewes were in labor. She woke Heidi and the rest of the family got up, dressed and headed to the barn around 2:30 a.m., where the miracle births unfolded before their eyes. “It amazing,” said Heidi of the multiple births. “We’ve had triplets and lots of twins, but never quads.” Following the births, the family was featured on KCCI Channel 8 in Des Moines and the story has spread across social media. Heidi said the momma ewe has been a milking machine since the births. With the multiple births, the momma can’t produce enough milk to feed all five lambs. The family is helping by bottle feeding two of lambs. “I am amazed that they are all alive” said Braxton, as he bottled fed one of the lambs. “I think they are going to make it,” added Breckyn. “We are all thanking God for the blessing of new life,” said Heidi.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
November 2024
Categories |