Edward Toye, Carricknamart, Manor with his triplet calves Becky, Jane and James.
BY SEÁN P. FEENY
A DONEGAL farmer recently had a welcome and rare addition to his herd in Manorcunningham. Edward Toye (75) got a huge surprise when one of his cows, an 11-year-old Charolais cross, gave birth to triplets.
It is very rare for a cow to have triplets, in fact, it is so rare that there is only a one in 700,000 chance. The father of the triplets is a Simmental bull.
Needless to say, the five-week-old triplets, Becky, Jane and James have brought a lot of joy to the cattle farm and Edward’s extended family.
Edward, who farms with a lot of family support, has a long distinguished career as a cattle farmer and used to keep a large pedigree herd, but he has never had triplets on the farm in his time and he is delighted the cow is feeding the triplets herself.