It was a special weekend for dairy farmer Sjaak Wijnen from Wanroij. One of his cows gave birth to triplets. That almost never happens, there is talk of a ‘one in eight million chance’. According to Sjaak, mother makes ‘boulder and rock’.
“We scanned mother cow Dinie when she was eight weeks pregnant,” says Sjaak. “Then we found out that there were triplets in it. That cow was therefore treated with extra care. She was allowed fourteen days earlier. on holiday† And I immediately called the vet.”
The birth of triplets does not always go well. “I spoke to someone who also had this happen, but he did not know that triplets were coming. Then all three calves died. So yes, that is also possible.”
The birth itself was therefore an exciting moment. But Sjaak wasn’t worried. “I had called the vet and those people have a lot of experience. I was more concerned about how the mother cow would come out of childbirth† If among us people a woman has triplets, this has a lot of impact. Just as well with a cow. But that cow makes it rock and roll.”
The calves born are two males and one female. “It was a quick delivery,” says veterinarian Wim Theuws of De Herkauwers Praktijk in Mill, who assisted with this. “Within ten to fifteen minutes they were all born. With some help with all three.”
The calves are currently placed in so-called individual boxes. “We can’t leave them with the big cows now,” explains dairy farmer Sjaak. “Animal organizations would like that, but immediately a cow lies on top of a calf. Then that calf is dead. That’s why we removed the calves.”
Veterinarian Wim understands this. “With three calves there is a little more risk than with the birth of a calf”, he explains. “After all, the cow has to keep an eye on three calves. If you place the calves in individual boxes, you have the advantage that you can knows how much each calf has drunk. Because certainly when three calves are born, it is best that a calf is pushed away and therefore receives too little milk. Then that animal could become very weak and the chance of survival decreases. wise to have them separately. Purely to know if they are getting enough to drink.”
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