Defying the odds - Cow gives birth to triplets

A cow has given birth to triplets, defying one in 100,000 odds.

Ellie Layton
Livestock Specialist
clock • 1 min read
Defying the odds - Cow gives birth to triplets

A cow has given birth to triplets, defying one in 100,000 odds.  

Monmouthshire based farmers, Nicole and Caerwyn Tranter were shocked to find their British Blue cross cow had given birth to three healthy calves.  

The three heifer calves are sired by a locally bred pedigree Limousin bull, Whiskey Rufus, and were born on December, 30, 2023.

Read also: 'Udderly amazing!' Cow gives birth to triplets

This was the only the second time calving for the mother, Rhianna, a British Blue cross Friesian. She is one of their 23-head suckler cow herd, which they source from a local dairy farm.   

The Tranter family are pleased the calves are a good size and doing well. They have named them Roxanne, Raquel and Rose.  

Rhianna with her three calves, Roxanne, Raquel and Rose.

Nicole Tranter said: "The cow was not scanned to have triplets, and it is a rare sight on a beef farm, so it was quite a surprise to see three calves born, especially being three heifers.

Read also: Welsh dairy farm streamline efficiency with business overhaul

"We are going to try and keep the three on the cow for as long as we can, but have an older cow, Doris, calving in a couple of weeks that could easily feed two if needed." 

The family are based near Raglan and has been farming for 10 years with their two sons. They run a flock of crossbred ewes alongside the suckler herd on their 45-hectare (110-acre) tenanted farm.  

More on Livestock

Pig farmers urged to unlock funded vet reviews to strengthen herd defences

Pig farmers urged to unlock funded vet reviews to strengthen herd defences

Pig producers are being urged to take advantage of funded on-farm reviews to strengthen biosecurity and herd health

clock 11 July 2026 • 4 min read
ROYAL WELSH SHOW: Young breeders buckle up for Royal Welsh Show

ROYAL WELSH SHOW: Young breeders buckle up for Royal Welsh Show

A young Monmouthshire couple are the first generation in the family to introduce sheep into the farming system and have not been shy of success since they started. Ellie Layton reports.

Ellie Layton
clock 10 July 2026 • 7 min read
Livestock numbers show strength at this years Royal Welsh

Livestock numbers show strength at this years Royal Welsh

Following last year's battle with bluetongue, the Royal Welsh Show livestock lines have bounced back, with entries increasing across the board.

Ellie Layton
clock 08 July 2026 • 3 min read