Five-Legged Lamb Born In England

Morpeth, United Kingdom – A five-legged lamb has been born at a farm in the UK.

The lamb, named “Quinto” by staff, was one of three born on Easter Sunday at the Whitehouse Farm Centre in Northumberland.

Happily, the extra front limb, which is positioned centrally, seems to be causing the cute animal no extra trouble. Farm manager Heather Hogarty revealed a vet would examine Quinto in the coming days before reaching a decision on whether to amputate the spare limb. Ms. Hogarty told BBC News:

“She’s doing absolutely fine at the moment and does not appear to have suffered any adverse effects from being born with an extra leg. It looks like it’s fully formed, although it’s a bit limp in the middle of her lower body.”

“As she was being born we just thought it was one of the front legs in an awkward position. She and her two sisters are a very healthy weight. Having five legs isn’t stopping her running about, even though it’s about the same size as the other legs. She is definitely the most unusual birth we’ve had here.”

While a decision on the fate of Quinto’s extra limb is reached, the five-legged lamb is enjoying being the center of attention at the farm, which also keeps llamas, wallabies, and meerkats.

Sam Prescott, director of Robson and Prescott Veterinary Centre in Morpeth, said:

“It is certainly rare but we will see mutations of different sorts and always have done. We’ll see lambs born with two heads and Siamese twins, there can be all sorts of deformities that make them nonviable.”

Last year, another British farm saw the birth of a sheep with an upside-down head.