Dairy Me - It's a Two-Faced Cow
 

By ONLINE REPORTER

August 23, 2007


DAIRY workers thought they were seeing double - when one of their cows gave birth to a two-headed calf.

Blinky was born at around 9am on Tuesday at the Hamstra Dairy in California.

"We call her Blinky because all four eyes blink at the same time," said dairy owner Greg Hamstra, speaking to the Fresno Bee newspaper and website.

The Holstein heifer has one neck and two ears - but also four eyes, two noses and two mouths.

And Mr Hamstra said the calf suckles on two bottles at the same time.

Vet Dr Pete Kistler, who examined Blinky, said: "It's a rare, freaky thing."

He said he didn't know whether the deformity was genetic or developmental.

Dr Kistler added that he suspects Blinky also has a deformity in her brain because she can't stand up.

The calf will probably need to be put down because fluid and bacteria will invade her lungs, he said.

But Mr Hamstra said he will continue to care for Blinky for as long as he can.

"It would be nice to keep her alive," he said.

Found at: http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007390266,00.html