There was a big Easter surprise at Longoe Farm in Caithness on Saturday when a heifer from the Castle of Mey Aberdeen-Angus herd gave birth to triplets sired by the AI sire Blelack Duke. 

Farm Managers, Danny and Sandy McCarthy, were both surprised and delighted with the new arrivals as this is the first time that triplet calves have been born on the farm since the herd was founded in 1964 by the late Queen Mother. The calves, all heifers, arrived a fortnight early but are all healthy and were soon up on their feet.

Triplet births in beef cattle are quite rare with the probability being about 1 out of 105,000 births. The fact that they’re all the same sex makes it even rarer.

A big thank you to Danny and Sandy McCarthy for sharing this great news with us! Here are some photographs of the triplets that we’re sure you’ll enjoy: