Triplet calves shock Gladfield valley dairy farmers
AGAINST the picturesque backdrop of the Gladfield valley, a single Illawarra cow defied the odds with the arrival of triplet calves.
Born on Sunday morning, the calves were a good size and born one day before their due date.
"Normally multiples are born two-three weeks early, and are usually smaller and weaker, but these were born a good size," dairy farmer Shane Bourke said.
"We knew she was having more than one but didn't know it was triplets.
"I assisted with the first calf a little bit but the other two wouldn't have made it without assistance."
John Bourke and sons Kevin, Paul and Shane have carried on the family dairy farm that started as a small selection drawn in the late 1800s by John's grandfather.
Over the years, the farm has grown and now produces about four million litres of milk each year.
"We have 550 cows calve per year, and usually get about 30 sets of twins," Shane said.
"The last set of triplets born here was about 30 years ago, so it is rare," Kevin said.
"It is also unusual the three calves are so different as twins are usually identical, so it must have been three separate eggs," Shane said.
Shane said improvements in feed in the industry in general had led to increased numbers of twins.
Killarney Vet practice manager Maurice Thomson confirmed the case was extremely rare.
"Twins are usually around one to seven per cent of births and triplets are much rarer, about one in 700,000," he said.
