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 The Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall passes through downtown Wapakoneta Wednesday, September 1. Staff photo/William Laney By CARLA MEYER
Staff Writer
For 45 minutes, the roar of motorcycles could be heard passing under an American flag hanging from two ladder trucks. For 45 minutes, area residents gathered in the shadow of the Auglaize County Courthouse and Wapakoneta Fire Station waved and clapped as motorcyclists rode by.
The smiles and waves turned into clapping and cheers as the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall passed down Willipie Street on its way to Custenborder Field in Sidney where it was greeted by a field of American flags.
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Tuesday, 03 March 2009 |
By KRISTA HAYES
Staff Writer
NEW HAMPSHIRE — An area cow has beaten the odds in the livestock world.
The cow, owned by New Hampshire’s Anita and Drew Sutherland, gave birth to healthy triplet bull calves, besting the one in 10,000 odds. The Maine Anjou angus cross-breed bull calves were born nearly a month ago, each weighing an average of 45 pounds.
After spending a whole afternoon in a barn braving the cold weather while in labor, the Sutherlands’ cow successfully delivered the three male calves without complications and with the assistance of Drew Sutherland.
“When I sent my mom to pick up some medicine for the calves from the vet at the Tri-County Large Animal Vet Clinic, in Anna, she was told by the vet that the chances of a cow giving birth to triplet calves was one in 10,000,” Drew Sutherland said. “I’ve heard and read about cows giving birth to triplets in books before but I’ve never seen it first-hand.
“As far a I’m aware of, there is no one in the area or in Auglaize County whose cow has given birth to triplets, so I guess we’re the first which is pretty amazing considering the odds.”
At six years of age, Drew Sutherland said his cow has delivered seven healthy calves thus far in her lifetime, with one birth involving twins. The Waynesfield-Goshen High School graduate noted a cow is usually at least two years of age before she first gives birth to her offspring, with the average lifespan for non-market old cow being anywhere from 10 to 12 years, while the range for a cattle market individual is 15 to 18 months.
Shortly after being born, the triplet calves were named Huey, Dewey and Louie by teh Sutherlands’ three young children, Kort, 6, Kyra, 4, and Kaymi, 6 months.
“They name everything and every single animal we own, rather it be cows, goats or dogs,” said Drew Sutherland, a heavy equipment operator for Reichert Excavating, in Lakeview. “I have no idea how they came up with those names — all I know is that they watch too many cartoons. Surprisingly, our cow still hasn’t managed to be given a name but a number since she was there before the kids came along.”
In saving the calves from being slaughtered for their meat, Sutherland says he intends to instead sell them to local and area kids looking for market steers to use for their 4-H projects. But before he can begin to make deals, each calf must grow to weigh 600 pounds.
“Raising cattle and livestock has been in my family for years through several generations, and ever since I was nine I can remember showing steers in 4-H at the fair,” the former Waynesfield All-Around Livestock 4-H member said. “However, in all my years showing and raising cattle, I have never came across a cow who has given birth to triplets.
“At first I thought our cow was going to have twins,” he said, “but as I started helping pull the unexpected third one out, it sure was a big surprise.”
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 04 March 2009 )
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