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BROOKLYN, Iowa - Not one, not two, but three Holstein heifers were born to one cow on the morning of July 8 at Jan and Dorine Boelen's farm in Brooklyn, Iowa.
More than a week after the breathtaking sight, the triplets are thriving in their new environment on the Boelen's 1,300-cow dairy - Bear Creek Dairy L.P. - beating the one in eight million chance that they would all survive.
"The mom is doing really well and the calves are all thriving," Dorine said. "They are nice to have on the farm and very likeable."
The Boelens' night manager first noticed the heifer calves as he walked the pens checking on feed and scraping manure.
He immediately called Jan to tell him the news.
"He told Jan, 'I found three calves, but only one cow,'" Dorine said. "Until Jan could get out to the barn, he didn't believe what he had heard."
This past fall, the Boelens purchased the pregnant cow, not knowing she was carrying triplets. When the pleasant surprise arrived on July 8, the Boelens were reminded of their time dairying in the Netherlands.
"We moved here in 2009 after dairying for 48 years in the Netherlands. Not once did we ever come across triplets," Dorine said. "We used to joke about pregnant cows that had a little extra belly to be carrying a third calf, but that was never the case."
Not only were the three newborn calves a sight to see, but also the Boelens received word of the birth of their first grandson that very same week. It has certainly been a time worth celebrating for the Iowa dairy farmers.
"That was one crazy week," Dorine said. "It looks like we've won the lottery."
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