Twin Holstein Calves Came In Two Colors

Twin Holstein Calves Came In Two Colors DAIRY EQUIPMENT & IDEAS Dairy Equipment & Ideas 20-6-18 The birth of twin Holsteins at the Dan Miller dairy farm near Burlington, Wash., last May was doubly unusual. One of the calves was born with the standard black and white col-ors, but the other was born red and white. Both calves are female, and they were born to a black-and-white Holstein cow bred to a black-and-white Holstein bull. Both calves are in perfect health. "The chances that twins would be born like this are one in a million," says Miller. "I've talked with about 20 area dairy farmers, and none of them has ever heard of any-thing like this. When the mother gave birth no one knew she was pregnant with twins." The birth itself started out so normal that Miller left the barn and went home, telling 20-year-old employee Sam Pilon to keep an eye on mom. Before long, a healthy black and white calf emerged. But soon after that, events started taking a different tack. "Hey, wait a minute, these feet are red and white," Pilon recalls saying to himself as the second calf emerged. As soon as the calf was safely delivered, Pilon called Miller. That was early Sunday morning, May 26. Three days later, a photograph of Miller holding the red-and-white calf in his arms appeared on the front page of the county's daily news-paper. A week later, both twins posed for a group shot - although they were more interested in exploring the world than standing still for the photographer. A red-and-white Holstein calf is unusual in its own right - twin or no twin. Miller says he's never had a red-and-white calf born on his farm in his 36 years in the business, a period during which he has welcomed thousands of calves into the world. Rare, yes, but certainly not unheard of. "Red" genes are recessive in Holsteins. Future plans for the calves will include guest appearances at county fairs and parades. But they won't just be "movie stars", says Miller. Both will be bred and developed as milkers. Nevertheless, the Millers and their herdsman Jim Griepsma are so impressed with their new calves that they've decided they won't be "just another number". The red-and-white calf has been named Carol and the black-and-white one, Christy, after the Millers' granddaughter. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dan Miller, Burlington, Wash. 98233 (ph 360 757-4289). Capital Press

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