Rare triplet calves make first outing in Järvamaa

Three calves born at a dairy farm in Järvamaa county made their first trip outdoors on Wednesday, ERR reported. The birth of triplets occurs in only one of every 100,000 calvings.

The calves were born in late July at the Peetri Põld ja Piim dairy farm. Farm staff had expected the cow to give birth to two calves, but were surprised when three were born.

The triplets are two heifers and a bull calf. The bull and one of the heifers have similar colouring, while the other heifer resembles her mother and is predominantly black, livestock manager Getter Niilo said.

The calves were separated from their mother immediately after birth. On Wednesday, they were strong enough to go outside and meet her for the first time.

The cow is a highly productive dairy animal. She produced nearly 12,000 kilograms of milk during her first lactation and almost 18,000 kilograms during her second. She began her third lactation after giving birth to the triplets.

Farm manager Kristjan Satsi said the triplets had not been detected during the initial pregnancy examination, which was carried out about a month after insemination. At that point, the examination indicated twins, making the third calf a surprise.

Carrying triplets places a heavy strain on a cow, which can lose up to 150 kilograms after calving. A single calf weighs about 40 kilograms, while the three fetuses together weighed more than 70 kilograms, not including the amniotic fluid, Satsi said.

The survival rate of triplet calves is only about 50 percent, according to Satsi. He said these were the first live triplets born during his time at the farm. The beginning was difficult, particularly for the bull calf, but all three are now drinking and running.