In May, Australian beef farmers David and Julie Ingram were astonished when their purebred Hereford cow gave birth to quadruplets. The couple, accustomed to twins, were surprised by the rarity of the event. Mr. Ingram recalled, “I said to Julie the night before she calved, ‘there’ll be a set of twins there tonight’.” The birth, featuring two heifers and two bull calves born prematurely, left the Ingrams concerned. They kept the strongest calf with the mother, hand-rearing the others. Veterinarian Peter Alexander, intrigued by the quadruple birth, noted its rarity and potential impact on the cow’s health. Dr. Alexander expressed concern about premature births and questioned the surviving offspring’s fertility. The Ingrams, experienced in calf complications, focus on ensuring the cow’s long-term reproductive health. Despite defying odds with six calves at just over four years old, they remain vigilant about calf survival.
