Baby lamb weighs 20 pounds at birth

WEARE GIFFARD, England, April 4 (UPI) -- A British farmer said a lamb weighing in at 20 pounds at the time of its birth was the largest he has ever seen.

John Grigg, 51, a farmer at Neverdown Farm, near Weare Giffard, England, said he does not believe the birth of the lamb would have been successful if he had not been there to assist, the North Devon Journal reported Thursday.

"If one of girls was down here I don't think they could have done it," he said. "It takes quite a lot of force and you have to be quick to make sure you don't block the lamb's lungs. I knew as soon as I could feel its feet it was a big one. I have never weighed a lamb here before but my daughter Maria said we ought to as it was so big. It looked at least a week old, I have called it 'monster.'"

Grigg said the newborn was the largest he has ever seen.

The farmer said the mother, a 3-year-old that has previously given birth once, is doing well after the birth.

"She is doing great and she has plenty of milk so there shouldn't be a problem," Grigg said.