A suckler cow on a farm near Magheraveely in Fermanagh gave birth to three healthy calves last Thursday morning. The farm is run by Sarah Elliott, whose father Andrew Elliott is a local veterinarian. Her fiancé Alan Orr manages a beef enterprise near Brookeborough.

The cow, which has produced nine calves over four years including twins in the prior three years, began calving around 3:30 a.m. Sarah Elliott contacted her father during the process. Both she and Alan Orr assisted with the delivery, as they felt only feet inside the cow.

Alan Orr delivered the first two calves. The third calf presented backwards, requiring immediate extraction to ensure its survival. All three calves recovered well. One is a Hereford, with the others of different breeds.

Sarah Elliott farms the family land at Mullaghcavan, focusing on breeding ewes and beef. Alan Orr keeps suckler cows as part of his beef operation. The couple plans to marry in July.

Sarah Elliott began her farming career during the 2020 lockdown by raising pet lambs, which formed the basis of her current flock of 70 to 80 ewes. She studied agriculture at Greenmount after A-levels and graduated last June.