Magnificent seven - rare birthing occurrence on Mayo farm

A VERY rare occurrence has happened on a Mayo farm, with four heifers producing seven calves between them in the space of a week.

Joseph Ryan from Castlereagh, Ballindine, pictured, saw one heifer give birth to triplets, another produced twins, while the other two had a calf each.

The amazing fact where the triplets were concerned was that triplets are a 150,000 to 1 chance, and the fact that they were all male bull calves is a 400,000 to 1 chance.

Joseph purchased the four heifers as calves from his neighbour in 2018.

The heifers - Belgian Blue x Friesians - were synchronised last Christmas.

All four calved during the third week of September.

The triplets were sired by Aubrac while the twins and two singles were of a Limousin sire.

A lucky week for farmer Joseph!