Emerald Hill farmers had an unexpected but happy surprise, when a cow gave birth to triplets recently.
It is often claimed that triplet calves has a one in more than 100,000 chance of occurring.
The YEO CHAROLAIS Stud triplets were conceived naturally and were brought into the world unassisted, making the birth even more rare.
All three and mum are happy and healthy, with the smallest heifer requiring some milk supplementation.
Ingrid and Wayne Yeo have already picked out the names for the triplets. The bull is named ‘Mr T’, while the two heifers are officially ‘Too Cute’ and ‘Way Too Cute’.
Ingrid had explained the moment the pair had learnt of the births.
They had brought the herd into the cattle yards for drafting, backlining and tagging calves.
After coming back from a late lunch, they were met with the surprise.
“Fortunately for us, [the mother] had them in the yards, so we could then shift them easily with low stress into the round yard,” Ingrid said.
“The hot dry windy weather made the first week a bit difficult.
“There are plenty of shade trees in and around our cattle yards.
“I also put up a piece of shade cloth to limit the hot wind from the west. We also offered the triplets a (liquid) supplement of Vytrate for hydration.”
This was also not the mother’s first rodeo, so to speak.
The same cow had twins in 2023. That set was one of 10 that year but this was the first time Ingrid and Wayne had seen triplets in their care.
As for the dad, the same bull (now nine-years-old) had also been the father to the twins.
“It is pretty amazing,” Ingrid said.
“And to have them all well and healthy, with an unassisted birth.”
Ingrid even had to call to document the births, as triplets were not even an option on the official forms.
UPDATE: The mother and triplets have been walked from the cattle yards to a section of the laneway which includes a tree corridor. They are still close to the house so Ingrid and Wayne can keep a close eye on them for now.
