Grumpy celebrates piglet record

The last piglet was born as the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve

A sow called Grumpy has set a personal record after she gave birth to 16 piglets on New Year's Eve - giving her a total of 51 babies in 2007.

The three-year-old Large White has had two other litters of 18 and 17 even though the average sow has about 11 or 12 at a time, Grumpy's owner said.

Farmer Gerald Mabbutt and his wife Pat have been breeding pigs at Pondhead Farm, Lyndhurst, for four years.

"Grumpy was one of the first to be born here," Mrs Mabbutt said.

"She has had a number of 'partners', the latest being a British Saddleback boar called Boris," she added.

"She and Boris seem to really hit it off and produce large litters.

"We were hoping she would give birth to the latest litter during 2007, although I don't know if it is any sort of record, and Grumpy duly obliged, the last of the 16 being born just as the church clock struck midnight."

"Boris, her husband, will be quite ready to help her again in a few weeks time," Mr Mabbutt added.