Miracle Babies on the Schmidt Farm

by Hattie Dyck

From: Amy Schmidt, Tatamagouche – August 1, 2009

   It’s not every day that a miracle happens on a farm in rural Nova Scotia so Amy and Dean Schmidt consider themselves blessed that their new Charolais cow gave them what they consider a miracle on Tuesday, July 28th. The cow gave birth to triplets; three healthy bull calves.

   The odds of the triplet birth in beef cattle is estimated to be about one in 100,000, and when you factor in that they are the same sex and healthy, the odds increases to less than one in 400,000 births (Truro News August 1).

   The Schmidt family have only owned their own farm on the Upper River John Road since last December. And they bought the cow at the cattle auction in Truro about two months ago. At the time they were told she would probably calve sometime in October. However, it became apparent in the last two weeks that

“”Big Mama”” would calve quite soon and they were keeping a close watch on her. So when they took their daughter Tia to Cape Breton to a 4H camp they asked Dean’s father, Daryl Schmidt, to keep an eye on her, which he did.

   Needless to say he was quite surprised when he went to check on her in the pasture and found she had given birth to two calves and there was another one on the way. Because she was tired and obviously distressed, Mr. Schmidt came to her aid and pulled the calf out, letting it lie on the ground beside its two brothers.

   Her huge success must have gone to her head because Mama cow became flustered and obviously decided to show her independence. She nursed the first two but rejected the last calf and butted it away with her head. It was obvious she wasn’t going to feed it and the Schmidt family would have to bottle feed it to keep it alive.

The young family was driving in Pictou County on their way home from Cape Breton when Daryl called them with the good news. They could hardly believe what they were hearing and are still very excited with their gain. Amy, who is general leader of the North Shore 4H Club says they will likely use the calves as a 4H project for Tia next year. Whatever capacity she chooses to show them in she can be sure the story of their birth and post natal care will be one of a kind. All three are the weight of a single calf so they have a good appetite. The third one out is now fed with a bottle with a nipple on it or with calf formula in a pail with a spout. It’s an alert and happy little calf that already shows its happiness when he sees them coming.

 The little calf quickly became a celebrity and has been featured in newspapers and on television as well as being the talk of the community.

A SQUARE SHIFT (An equal amount)