STUDENTS at Duchy College are helping to hand rear 16 lambs that have become orphaned during the spring lambing season.

There has been an increase in the number of ewes giving birth to triplets at Duchy Home Farm and often the smallest and the weakest lamb will be pushed aside by the larger, stronger two and won't get as much milk as they need.

Animal management technician Jo Challacombe said: 'As there are now 16 lambs, staff and students are using a "shepherdess" feeding system, which reduces labour and means that the lambs can regulate themselves with the amount of milk they drink and have access to milk throughout the night.

'They do, however, tend to guzzle the whole lot in one go.'

As the lambs start to grow they will become stronger, but at the moment every bit of energy is precious and some have been given dog coats to keep them warm.

'They tend to stay n the animal care unit for the first 48 hours and get used to being fed with a bottle and then when they are strong enough they can then join the gang outside in the pen,' Jo said.

'They have an indoor pen for night times and then an outdoor pen in the day so they can learn to eat grass and play.'

Further education students are involved with cleaning out and feeding the lambs and the higher education students can health check and handle them.

Jo added: 'The lambs will stay with the animal care unit for around two months, until they can eat hay, grass and eat from the creep feeder.

'They will then be turned out into a larger paddock where they will be monitored regularly throughout the day and we will then return them to the farm once they are established as a group.'

Head of rural economy at The Cornwall College Group, Dr Phil Le Grice, said: 'Spring is a time for joy on the farm, especially with all the new arrivals, but sometimes we have to step in and help those animals that are a little more vulnerable.

'I'm very proud of the work being done by our students and I'm looking forward to seeing these young lambs back out in the field.'