Unusual twin calves prove a surprise for Central Otago farmers

This Angus cow, near Alexandra, gave birth to bull calf twins last month, which is uncommon. Photo / Yvonne O'Hara

When Fred and Raywyn Ridder first saw their Angus cow with two calves, they assumed she had given birth to one and taken the other from another cow.

One of the bull calves was brown and the other was black and shared similar facial markings.

READ MORE
• Jane Lacy-Hulbert: Should waste milk go to your calves?
• New rules for dehorning and disbudding cattle

As it turned out, she had twins last month.

''It is the first set of twins I have seen in 50 years,'' Mr Ridder said.

''They are not really common.''

The couple have Pondora Downs, a 16ha lifestyle block near Alexandra, and run a few Hereford/Angus cattle.

He said the mother was an Angus-cross from a Hereford father.

''She was extra big.

''We thought she had pinched one calf off another cow, but then that one calved as well.''