A COW has beaten odds of 105,000 to one by giving birth to triplets on a South Lakeland farm.

The seven-year-old pedigree Shorthorn delivered the two heifers and bull at Broad Oak, Crosthwaite, leaving farmer Daniel Dobson ‘astounded but tickled pink’.

Mr Dobson, 34, said it was the first set of triplet calves to be born at the farm since his family took it over 90 years ago.

They were delivered by the pedigree Shorthorn Oakthwaite Barrington 305, a beef cow.

“This year has been amazing,” said Mr Dobson. “I’m astounded. We usually get a couple of sets of twins each year but this year we’ve had the triplets and seven sets of twins. I’ve no idea why - it’s just one of those things.

“My uncle, who is in his 70s, said he’d never come across triplet calves before. And the only ones I’d heard of were some Hereford triplets a few years ago.”

Mr Dobson said the triplets’ mum had previously had five calves, all singles.

The triplets, conceived by artificial insemination, were ‘looking strong’ and he hoped they could all go on to be breeding stock.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” said Mr Dobson. “I’m hoping the male will make a good stock bull, but that depends on how he grows.”

Mr Dobson, whose family began farming at Broad Oak in the 1920s, added: “I’m really delighted with the triplets. Seeing them really put a smile on my face.”