Quadruple joy on Norfolk farm as goat gives birth to four kids

Three-day-old Boer goat quads, two females and two males, born on Good Friday at Honingham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Eight-year-old William and his six-year-old sister Polly, the children of Honingham cheese makers Caroline and Sam Steggles, were thrilled when their Boer doe gave birth to four kids.

Mr Steggles said: 'We bought the children some pedigree Boer goats for Christmas and they started kidding at the beginning of the Easter holidays.

'This one goat had quads in the early hours of Saturday morning - two billy kids and two nanny kids.

'They were all up on their feet within minutes and starting to drink.

Polly Steggles, six, with two of her three-day-old Boer goat quads born on Good Friday at Honingham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

'They're very curious little characters. They leap about and the children go into the pen with them and love playing with them.

'They were a bit smaller than usual but not significantly smaller - they'll make great goats going forward.'

Mr Steggles said he did not know what the odds of quads were - but they had bred some before, and had even had one doe give birth to five kids at once.

The Boer goat breed was developed in South Africa for meat production, and they are characterised by their distinctive brown heads and white bodies. They are often bred to be shown, but are also considered to be great pets.

Polly, six, and her brother William Steggles, eight, with their dad, Sam, and their three-day-old Boer goat quads, two females and two males, born on Good Friday at Honingham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Mr Steggles said they did not have a large number of goats on their property, but instead produced cheese using goats' milk supplied by other farms under their brand Fielding Cottage.

Their range includes Wensum White Cheese, which has won a super gold award at the World Cheese Awards, and Norfolk Mardler, which has been awarded with a bronze.

They have been producing goats' cheese for about seven years.

Mr Steggles said William and Polly were still considering what to call the new additions, but they were already getting a few ideas.

He said: 'The children have decided to name everything starting with the letter 'A' this year, so that will go for these kids' names. People can send us in suggestions on Twitter.'

Fielding Cottage tweets as @fieldingcottage

Do you have an animal story? Email reporter Stuart Anderson at stuart.anderson@archant.co.uk