Bizarre Birth: Three Headed Calf Arrives in Saskatchewan
Get ready for an astonishing tale that will leave you in awe! On that memorable Monday, March 25th, Davidson became the center of attention as Guinness World Records and Ripley’s Believe It or Not arrived to verify the birth of a truly extraordinary creature—a three-headed calf. Yes, you read that right! This mind-boggling event took place on Gordon Willner’s farm, located just west of Davidson, and it left everyone amazed.
It all began like any other day on the farm during calving season. The cow in question had been closely monitored, as she was expected to deliver her calf at any moment. However, as her due date approached, it became clear that something was not quite right. Concerned, Gordon Willner reached inside the cow and was stunned to feel not just one, but two heads. Assuming it was a set of twins, he urgently called for assistance.
Dr. Olaf Lipro, a resident specializing in big animal veterinary medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, promptly answered the call. He arrived at the farm and conducted a thorough investigation, confirming the presence of two heads. Faced with the challenging situation, Dr. Lipro made the decision to perform an emergency cesarean section when the delivery did not progress as expected. Little did he know that this would be his first time performing such a procedure on a cow.
After administering a local anesthetic to the cow, Dr. Lipro proceeded with the surgery, following the steps described in his textbook. However, he quickly realized that extracting the calf was no easy task. Despite his experience delivering pug/Rottweiler puppies in the past, the calf proved to be surprisingly resilient. Time was of the essence, as the cow’s life was at stake, so Dr. Lipro exerted all his strength and finally managed to free the calf.
To his astonishment, Dr. Lipro discovered that what he initially thought was a set of twins was, in fact, a three-headed calf. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Although he had heard of two-headed calves being born before, a three-headed calf was an entirely new experience for him. His immediate impulse was to capture the moment on his iPhone and share it on social media, but duty called, and he knew he had to focus on his work.
Dr. Lipro carefully examined the calf’s airways, ensuring that all three heads had unobstructed breathing passages. One of the heads, the center one, seemed to be in distress, so he gently cleared the amniotic fluid from its nose. Interestingly, Dr. Lipro shared a unique technique he had recently learned—he used a straw from a Tim Hortons Iced Capp to suction out the fluid. He even suggested that other cattle farmers might find this method useful on their cow-calf farms, though he jokingly advised against relying on Twisted Sisters milkshake straws, as the shop was closed for the season.
With the calf’s breathing stabilized, Dr. Lipro turned his attention to the cow. After cleaning and suturing her wound, he ensured that she received the necessary care. The road to recovery for the three-headed calf was not an easy one. During the first 48 hours, the calf struggled to suckle from a bottle and had to be tube-fed colostrum through its left head. Seizing the opportunity, Dr. Lipro decided to tube-feed the right head as well, just to see if it could be done.
Gradually, the calf started to show signs of progress. After two days of struggling, it managed to suckle on its own, but it still required bottle feeding during its first 48 hours as it learned to stand. The nursing process presented its own challenges, as all three heads jostled for a position at the udder. Dr. Lipro acknowledged that the prognosis for a three-headed calf was not promising, as such cases rarely survived beyond a few days. However, only time would reveal the true outcome.
Interestingly, while it is possible that this three-headed calf is the first of its kind in history, there is evidence of a similar birth back in 1893 in Illinois. The Mattoon Gazette reported the astonishing arrival of a three-headed calf born in the vicinity of Lafayette. The farmer who witnessed the event requested anonymity to ensure that justice could be served for this remarkable occurrence.
Word of the three-headed calf spread like wildfire, and soon Guinness World Records and Ripley’s Believe It or Not caught wind of the news. Dr. Lipro’s Instagram post featuring a photo of the calf sparked a frenzy of attention, causing him to apologize for inadvertently drawing so much focus to the Willner property. He admitted that his ego had gotten the best of him. In fact, he even considered the possibility of using the calf as a thesis topic for his Ph.D. under the esteemed Dr. Newt Scamander at the College of Large and Unusual Animals in veterinary medicine. A truly fascinating journey lies ahead!
As we await updates on the progress and fate of this three-headed calf, let us marvel at the wonders of the animal kingdom. Nature never ceases to surprise us with its remarkable creations, reminding us of the vast diversity that exists in our world. The resilience and determination displayed by both the calf and those involved in its birth are a testament to the indomitable spirit of life itself.
So, keep your eyes peeled for further developments in this extraordinary tale, and let us appreciate the boundless mysteries that continue to captivate our imaginations.