Triplet Calves Born Again at Alberta Ranch on New Year’s Day

At the Lucky Seven Cattle Company in central Alberta, triplet calves made their entrance once again on New Year’s Day, continuing a remarkable streak for the ranch. This year, the purebred Red Angus mother began her labour around 3 a.m. and successfully delivered her first calf shortly after 4 a.m.. The event marks the second consecutive year that the ranch has welcomed triplet calves on the first day of the year.

Owner Stacey Stimpson described the experience, noting that the mother initially appeared to have completed her birthing process. “Sure enough, I palpate this cow, and yep, there’s another set of feet and a head right there. So we courtesy pulled that calf,” she explained in an interview. Following the birth of the second calf, Stimpson’s father advised her against prematurely putting away the birthing chains, a warning she took seriously after conducting a thorough check.

As she proceeded, Stimpson found herself shoulder-deep within the cow and discovered the third calf was in a backward position, which posed a risk of suffocation. Acting quickly, she safely delivered the final calf, naming her Darla, after her older sisters, Marla and Carla.

“Triplets are a rarity in any breed. To get them all alive is like, ‘Holy cow,’” Stimpson remarked, reflecting on the extraordinary occurrence. This remarkable event echoes last year’s surprise when the triplets’ grandmother also gave birth to triplets, leaving Stimpson to wonder about the source of this unusual luck. “Something in the water? I don’t know,” she joked.

The triplets and their mother are reportedly in good health. While Marla remains with her mother, Carla and Darla are being nurtured by a nurse cow to alleviate stress on their mother. The weights of the calves ranged from 51 to 56 pounds, contributing to a healthy beginning for the new arrivals.

As the Lucky Seven Cattle Company celebrates this remarkable event yet again, it serves as a joyful reminder of the unique surprises that can come with the start of a new year.