Statistical miracle
Statistical miracle
Angus triplets born on New Town ranch
By MARVIN BAKER
EDITOR
Calving season is usually an exciting time of year on any ranch, but occasionally nature will provide a little extra incentive.
That’s what happened on the Baker Family Ranch near New Town April 7, when an Angus cow gave birth to triplets.
This cow had delivered seven individual calves in her life, according to Kyle Baker, and was expecting with twins, but not triplets.
The two females and one bull, born at 6 a.m., last Wednesday, are all healthy and are all feeding properly. Baker has the new family of bovines in a corral to keep a closer eye on them and to protect family members and other animals from the protective mother.
“She’s a feisty cow,” Baker said. “She knocked my nephew down and chased my wife.”
It’s a testament this writer can verify. Upon attempting to photograph the new calves, the cow tried butting the photographer several times even though a fence stood between them.
“She’s an older cow,” Baker said. “We call her Kate, you know, from Kate plus 8.”
According to Baker, when he found her early Wednesday morning, she up and licking the calves. Prior to the birth, he said her belly was big so he assumed she might be having twins.
He was close.
“I thought maybe another cow had a calf she was taking care of,” Baker said. “But then I found three water bags.”
The calves, born on the range overlooking Lake Sakakawea, were later tied up with ropes and brought to the Baker Family Ranch rodeo arena for safe keeping.
Kyle Baker wanted to make sure that if any of them became ill, they could quickly be cared for and nursed back to health.
Thus far that hasn’t happened. They’ve been running around the corral and sunning themselves on those rare occasions when the sun does peek through the clouds.
