Geep: Rare 'goat-sheep' born on Irish farm Published duration 4 April 2014

media caption What do you get when you cross a sheep and a goat?

A rare, hybrid animal that is part goat and part sheep has been born on a farm in the Republic of Ireland.

The animal, referred to as a geep, was born about two weeks ago on Paddy Murphy's farm in County Kildare.

The unexpected arrival is thought to be the result of mating between a goat and one of the sheep farmer's Cheviot ewes.

Mr Murphy said the cross-breeding was not intentional. He described it as a "pure shock to the system" and said it would be a "one-off" event on his farm.

"I've never seem anything like him before," he told the Irish Farmers Journal , adding that his family had been involved in sheep farming for "generations".

'Unbelievable'

Mr Murphy confirmed that the geep appeared to be healthy and "thriving" and was able to run faster than other lambs that were born around the same time.

"He's unbelievable," he said. "He's so fast you'd have to get him into the pen to catch him. There's no chance you would catch him otherwise."

image copyright Irish Farmers Journal image caption County Kildare sheep farmer Paddy Murphy said the birth of the cross-bred animal was a "pure shock to the system"

The sheep farmer, who also owns Murphy's pub in Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare, spoke to the journal in a interview headlined: Ewe gotta be kidding.

'Unusual character'

He said he witnessed a goat mating with ewes on his farm during "tupping" season five months ago, but had given the matter little thought until the geep appeared,

He said the new arrival had created a lot of laughter in the pub, when he showed mobile phone pictures of the hybrid to his customers and friends.

"He's an unusual character," Mr Murphy added, saying the animal was developing a set of horns on its head.

The Irish Farmers Journal said it was the first time it had reported the birth of a healthy geep in Ireland.

A spokeswoman for the Ulster Farmers Union said the live birth of a so-called geep is a very rare event and they are not aware of any currently in existence in Northern Ireland.

She said this form of cross-breeding, on the rare occasion it does occur, is likely to involve a buck goat and a ewe.

However, the geep usually dies during the ewe's pregnancy or is stillborn.

image copyright Irish Farmers Journal image caption The farmer said the ewe was raising the geep "just like a lamb" and her new arrival was thriving

Mr Murphy said the ewe in question was raising the geep "just like a lamb".

As for the hybrid animal's future, the farmer said he was not planning to send the geep for slaughter but would try to keep it for as long as it was practically possible to look after it.

But he has not yet chosen a name for his new pet.