Lamb with 'angry old man face' becomes circus star in Russian village

A newborn lamb with a human-like face has become the centre of attention in the south-western Russian village of Chirka.

The farmer who owns the lamb, was shocked after he went to check on his newborn lambs only to find one staring at him with a face similar to that of an "angry old man", News.com.au reported.

"We had quite a tough winter and when I noticed she was pregnant I was delighted as it meant I would be able to sell the lambs and start making some money again," farmer Blasius Lavrentiev told the website.

"But when I went down to see how it was going I nearly died from shock when I saw what looked like the hairy face of an old man staring up at me. Her parents are both normal looking sheep so I have no idea how she ended up looking like this," the 45-year-old farmer added.

According to the local vet, Dorofei Gavrilov, "The anomaly is the result of the farmer giving the lamb's mother too much vitamin A."

The lamb has since became so popular in the village that his owner got an offer from a local circus for ten times the price he would fetch for a lamb from a slaughterhouse.

"Whatever has caused it she's a little beauty and I definitely won't be selling her for anyone's dinner table either as the buyers want her on display. She'll be staying with us until then," Lavrentiev said.

Meanwhile, the neighbour of the farmer expressed their amusement, describing the lamb as "an angry old man with a big nose."