Editor’s Note: Lehman’s fan Christine in Powder Springs, Georgia shares news and photos about the surprise at her family’s home place here in Ohio: they had triplet polled Herefords born in late April! One of the calves stayed on the home farm, and the other two are now at her brother’s place nearby, being bottle fed. Her dad, Jerry, was expecting just one calf. But he’ll take three healthy, happy ones.
Christine writes:
My father, Jerry, who is 84, has raised beef cattle on his farm for over 60 years and was blessed this year with a very special gift.
His breeding cow Sally had beautiful, healthy Polled Hereford triplet calves, on April 2, 2013.
All three are very healthy and just perfect! The birth was completely unassisted by anyone, and two of these three calves came as a rather “quick surprise.” There are two little heifers and one bull calf.
Daisy had the bull calf first, out in the pasture. Finally, even though she was very reluctant and took much coaxing, Dad and my brother Jon got her to go to the barn, which was quite a long, slow…walk.
Then, when she was in the barn, and what seemed to be a “settled state,” some four hours later, my bother Jon, literally turned around only to see “two more tiny calves” beside Daisy.
He called my other brother, Jeff, who is a veterinarian, and told him he needed to get there right away, that she just had 2 more calves! Jeff asked Jon, not knowing Daisy and the calves were the only cows in the barn, “Are you sure they are from the same cow?” Jon was very sure!
The mother had been artificially inseminated and all the calves were in the same sack. They look very similar in the face and are very cute! The calves were 15 days early. The bull calf weighed about 55 pounds and the heifers about 40 pounds each.
The mother cow, Sally, was born in 2008 and she was my niece Chole’s 4-H show heifer. Sally did not have enough milk, for all 3 calves, so my brother, Jeff took two of them home in burlap sacks to bottle feed.
My brothers, Jeff, Jon and Jim and my nephews, Jon and Jordan have all taken my Father’s farm, under their wings, since my parents are aging. There is always some excitement there, and always something to keep them busy. This spring, with the triplets, it’s been a little more busy than usual!
I am so thankful that my Dad was able to see this wonderful blessing and miracle!! For him, as a farmer, it is truly a once in a lifetime triple blessing! It’s rare that triplets all survive and thrive.
Wonderful news and what a surprise. Congrats!! Thank You for sharing!
Dori–thanks for your kind words! We love it when folks write in to share their big news. Glad to see you’re a regular reader.