Cow Triplets
Cows are a definite WU theme. But in all these years, I do not believe we have ever commented on the rare instance of triplet calves. The odds of a successful gestation and delivery are "one in eight million."
Yet there was such a birth in April of 2016. And here was another from 1972.
Of course, with 1.5 billion cattle (half male? fewer than half male?) as of 2013, that could still be a lot of triplets per year.
Comments
Probably a lot more cows that bulls & steers. Meat doesn't last long.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 08/22/16 at 10:23 AM
There are more females than males because of the dairy industry.
Beef cattle (approx. 50/50 male/female) generally reach market weight at one year of age, but a healthy portion might live to be nearly two years old.
Male calves born of dairy cows can either become veal (harvested at six months old (or sooner)) or enter the general beef industry, living to about a year old.
A dairy cow generally lives five years, with a healthy portion lasting until they're seven.
So it's: beef cattle = 50/50, dairy cattle = 0/100, calves of dairy = 50/50 but it's 0/100 at one year of age.
Beef cattle (approx. 50/50 male/female) generally reach market weight at one year of age, but a healthy portion might live to be nearly two years old.
Male calves born of dairy cows can either become veal (harvested at six months old (or sooner)) or enter the general beef industry, living to about a year old.
A dairy cow generally lives five years, with a healthy portion lasting until they're seven.
So it's: beef cattle = 50/50, dairy cattle = 0/100, calves of dairy = 50/50 but it's 0/100 at one year of age.
Posted by Phideaux on 08/22/16 at 02:39 PM
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Category: Animals | Babies | Natural Wonders