Rare triplet baby goats born at Penrith farm

Mum, a four-year-old boar nanny goat had given birth previously to single kids and twins - but never triplets, which is not common in goats.

Normally female goats only have two teats in order to feed single or twin babies.

Third-generation farmer, Chris Dickinson said: "It is not unknown for goats to have triplets, but it is a rare occurrence.

"It is also rare for three to survive, and to have three all different sizes," added 31-year-old Chris, who farms with mum, Anne, and dad, Alan, at North Netherscales Farm, Hutton End.

"The small one came out first and has fought to survive. We put it under a heat lamp in a box with a hot water bottle, and as mum had lots of milk we fed it the first few days with a tiny weaning bottle for pups because we needed a small teat," said Chris.

The youngsters, one boy, who is the biggest of the three, and two girls, have yet to be named - and Chris said it would be fun for the public to pick suitable ones.

Chris launched his own goat meat enterprise The Tailored Goat Company around 18 months ago and now has a herd of over 300. This year he will be kidding 150 baby goats.

He chose a breed of goat originating in South Africa which is bred specifically to produce meat. "Meat from Boer goats is generally better in both texture and flavour than meat taken from a dairy goat animal," he explained.

Currently his goat meat is sold at the Westmorland Services on the M6, and Cranstons Food Halls, as well as high-end restaurants in Edinburgh, and is looking to make up meat goat boxes to deliver in the county.

Chris's goats are so full of character, and each one of them has a different personality.

"They are very inquisitive and boisterous, and love exploring. They get quite cheeky as they get older, and are extremely nosy."

"With goat farming it's a steep learning curve; you can't treat them like sheep.They have different needs.They are clean, friendly intelligent animals.