Shropshire girl, 13, is over the moon as her prize cow gives birth to triplets in one-in-100,000 chance

A Shropshire schoolgirl who adores her pedigree cow has three new young ones to help take care of after an extremely unlikely triple birth.

Sophie Edge, 13, helps around her family’s beef and sheep farm at Marton, near Baschurch, and dotes on her five-year-old breeding Simmental cow Lucky Lady.

The Edges of Charmwood Farm bought the pedigree cow in July 2023 from breeders Mr and Mrs Martindale of St Martins.

Sophie was overjoyed last year when she learned her prize animal was pregnant; Lucky Lady had a scan in December for what were thought to be twins.

But when the time came last week it turned out she was a very lucky lady indeed: on Tuesday morning (September 1) Sophie and family were astounded to find the cow had given birth to three healthy female triplets without assistance.

Triplets are rare - the National Farmers’ Union estimates the odds are about one in 100,000.

Sophie and younger sister Bethany adore the triplets, named Tia, Tilly and Tiffany - though Sophie hasn’t been able to spend as much time with them as she would have liked, having gone back to school the day after they were born.

Mum Susan said the family had no idea Lucky Lady was carrying three calves.

“[Sophie] is very excited because it’s her cow and her calves. She’s got a few cows but this is a pedigree cow. She was really excited to tell everybody.

“She really is a lucky lady!”

Sophie told the Shropshire Star: “I was happy when I realised she was pregnant, I could not believe my eyes when I saw there were three!

“I haven’t been able to [spend lots of time with the triplets]. I have been for a quick ‘good morning’ before school and go to see them when I get home.”

The triplets have inherited their mother’s pretty reddish brown and white colouration, and Sophie said she tells the calves apart by their shade, from darkest to lightest.

Susan, 42, who works full time on the farm with husband Tristan, 43, said the calves will be raised for breeding.

A dairy farmer near Shifnal also welcomed triplet calves earlier this year; James Chatham told the Shropshire Star in May the births were “really quite special” to see.

And in January 2020 farmer Ben Beddoes of Churchstoke was bowled over after his cow gave birth to three male calves.