After an unbelievable one-in-2,500 mutation

In a rare mutation that occurs in just one out of 2,500 births, a two-headed newborn calf was delivered on a US ranch. Sadly, the unique delivery presented difficulties that prevented the calf from surviving.

Farmer Leslie Hunewill, 38, observed as one of her heifers (a mature cow) gave birth to its first calf. The heifer seemed to be struggling, and soon it became evident that the rare genetic variation was to blame. Polycephaly, the condition of having more than one head, has been observed in various animals, such as cats, cows, goats, pigs, sheep, mice, birds, turtles, and humans.

Initially, Hunewill did not realize that the calf had an extra head, but she noticed a lump or swelling behind one side of the head. The calf’s body was small, but its head appeared unusually large. Hunewill and her team used obstetrical chains to pull the calf out, but it was insufficient, and they had to bring in a calving jack to enable a stronger pull. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, the calf did not survive the birth.

Hunewill explained that this type of birth occurs when an embryo tries to split into two separate embryos, which would create identical twins, but the split never completes. Therefore, it is not genetic; conjoined twins occur in roughly 0.039 percent of bovine births. Nevertheless, Hunewill, who has experience in cattle farming, was surprised by the delivery, stating that she had never seen anything like it before.

Polycephaly, the condition of having more than one head, is not limited to cows and has been observed in various other animals, such as snakes, lizards, turtles, and humans. In some cases, the heads share a common body; in others, the heads are entirely separate. The condition is rare in humans and is usually caused by a congenital abnormality or a mutation.

It is often associated with other health conditions, such as brain or spinal cord deformities and physical deformities. Polycephaly can also be caused by twinning when two embryos fuse in the uterus. In some cases of craniopagus twins, both heads are fully functional, and the individual has two separate brains that can control both sides of the body independently.

In other cases, one head may be more dominant than the other, with one head controlling more of the body’s movements or exhibiting more developed cognitive abilities. In some cases, one head may also be more severely affected by physical or neurological conditions, such as seizures, hydrocephalus, or other neurological disorders.

In a heartwarming gesture, the farmers grafted an orphaned calf onto the mother to help her cope with the pain of the loss. They seemed pleased to have each other, and the mother was attentive to her new calf. This gesture shows farmers’ compassion and empathy for their animals, which is a testament to their commitment to caring for them.

Watch a video of the recently born two-headed calf below

Similarly, a calf with two pairs of eyes, two mouths, and two ears was born in the Indian state of Assam, northeast of the country. Its unusual appearance has sparked curiosity and amazement among locals, who have since been flocking to the village of Baghmara to glimpse the calf.

The owner of the calf, Manoj Kumar, is reportedly astonished by its physical features and has been taking care of it since its birth. Local experts have not been able to explain the phenomenon, and there is still much speculation about the cause of the calf’s abnormalities. Regardless, the calf seems healthy and happy, much to the relief of its owner and the surrounding community.

Watch video footage of the astonishing two-headed female calf below