In Estonia, triplet calves went outside for the first time
At the Peetri Põld ja Piim AS farm in Järva County, Estonia, three calves born in late July went outside for the first time. The two heifers and one bull calf had been kept separate from their mother since birth, but this week, once they had grown stronger, they were able to meet her outdoors for the first time.
According to ERR News, the birth of triplets is a rare occurrence and happens in about one out of every 100,000 calvings. The Peetri Põld ja Piim AS farm is located approximately 100 kilometers from Tallinn.
Livestock manager Getter Niilo explained that the bull calf and one of the heifer calves resemble each other, while the other heifer calf inherited its mother’s black coat. On the day of their birth, the calves were closely monitored for several hours. A group of people who were at the farm that day also witnessed the arrival of the triplets.
For more breaking news, follow the UA.News Telegram channel.
Farm manager Kristjan Satsi noted that the staff did not expect the birth of triplets. About a month after insemination, during a pregnancy check, they detected only two fetuses. According to Satsi’s estimate, the survival rate for calves in such cases is about 50%. The bull calf had the hardest time at first, but now all three are drinking and running around.
Carrying triplets placed a significant strain on the cow: after calving, she can lose up to 150 kilograms of weight. According to Niilo, during her first lactation, the cow produced nearly 12,000 kilograms of milk, and during her second, nearly 18,000 kilograms. She has now begun her third lactation following the birth of the triplets.
