Powys: Cow gives birth to extremely rare quadruplet calves

The bull and three heifers arrived fit and healthy at Calcourt Farms in Wernllwyd, Powys, the BBC reported. 

The situation is extremely unusual, as the chance of a quadruplet pregnancy in cattle is set at one in 700,000. What is more, the chance of them all being born alive is just one in 11 million. 

Matthew Hicks, the farm’s fertility manager, said that he could not believe his own eyes when he saw the Holstein Friesian cow give birth to the fourth calf. 

“We knew she was having twins, but when I was doing the rounds at night, I saw two on the floor and one nearly on the floor. I was thinking, ‘we’re going to have to take a look at this’ but by that time she spat out number four. 

“I was questioning myself, ‘Am I actually awake?’ It was unbelievable, really,” he told the Powys County Times. 

‘It’s unheard of’ 

Speaking to the BBC, the farm manager added: “It’s unheard of. I’d been at the pub and it is quite common for me to come home seeing double, but on that evening I definitely hadn’t drunk enough.” 

The calves’ mother has undergone an artificial insemination (AI) pregnancy, but Mr Hicks does not believe that affected the outcome. 

He also said: “They’re all doing grand. The cow’s fine, and all of the calves are alive. She’s having a little more TLC. The four were not much bigger than the dogs”.

Read more livestock news. 

Meet eeny meeny miny moo, the quadruplet cows calves that have defied the odds 🐮 @skysarahjane speaks to Matthew Hicks from Calcourt Farms about the unherd arrival. https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3

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— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 23, 2024