Dr Liggins (known as "Mont" after his childhood craze for Monty the Mouse) was determined to understand why such births occurred, and to prevent them.

Then serendipity stepped in.One morning Dr Liggins discovered that a lamb he had infused with cortisol had been born overnight.

Dr Liggins, as generous with his knowledge as with his whisky, was surprised that the rest of the world took 20 years to follow.