Feeding a bumper crop of 52 hungry lambs three times a day is a dedicated labour of love for South Taranaki woman Sue Pearce.
It's a task on the family farm that she is totally committed to and she never tires of the antics of her large number of babies.
They're milling about in a pen, waggling their tails and bleating frantically.
They're are all colour coded (with a collar) for their age and they've either been orphaned, are one of triplets or twins, or have been "mismothered" from birth.
The lambs are an absolute delight, Sue said.
They all have different personalities, distinctive faces and raucous bleats, she said.
"I've named a couple of them, I couldn't help it so there is a Spot and a Fluffy."
Feeding times are 7am, 11am and 4pm and they are taken through in groups to the calf feeder which has been adjusted with special teats for the lambs.
They are fed on a mix of colostrum from their dairy farm and yoghurt and weaned after a month.
They are then fed on pellets as well as grass.
Because the number has risen so rapidly, Sue has had to employ an assistant to help her.
"I really need a couple of days a week off."
The lambs are already following their new mum and pricking up their ears at the sound of her voice, so getting them all to troop through into the barn at night is not a problem, she said.
"I lead the way and they all follow. It's very funny."
Sue said they way the lambs sleep in one big stack never fails to make her laugh.
"They're still asleep when I come in the morning.
"There's silence until I open the gate, then they're all up in seconds."
On the 3000ha sheep and beef farm, Sue and husband David have a sheep flock of 2200.
Even though lambing is always hectic, Sue said she loves it.
"These little babies are my favourite job, and I never tire if it."