Calf with two faces born at Va. farm

[Zappa]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070104/ap_on_fe_st/two_faced_calf

One of the newest arrivals at Kirk Heldreth's dairy farm is drawing crowds. A calf with two faces was born Dec. 27 at Heldreth Dairy Farm, and word has spread in southwest Virginia as residents flock to his farm

The animal is normal from its tail until its unusually large head. The calf breathes out of two noses and has two tongues, which move independently, according to Heldreth. There appears to be a single socket containing two eyes where the heads split.

"It's the craziest thing I've ever seen," the dairyman said.

During the calf's birth, Heldreth said he first thought there were two calves.

The calf has two lower jaws, but only one mouth. Heldreth feeds her through a tube, and acknowledges he probably can't maintain that feeding schedule for long.

The calf was the product of artificial insemination, which was supposed to create a genetically superior specimen. "Genetically, this is one of my better calves," he said



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/rod3678/cow.jpg

[Frethead]

thats what happens when man plays god

[nitro juiced]

*cow farts*

Face 1:he did it!

Face 2:no no! he did it... :rotf:

[Ttone]

"Genetically, this is one of my better calves,"

At first I was thinking that someone should put it down but now I think someone should put him down.

Sick f#@#er.

[Frethead]

"Genetically, this is one of my better calves,"

At first I was thinking that someone should put it down but now I think someone should put him down.

Sick f#@#er.

i think he was being sarcastic

[KeithB]

Well, genetically it might be best, though it turned out into a conjoined thing. Poor calf, it really is sad. Poor thing.

[Nameless]

Yea this is why I hate humans.

[Dashooter]

Yeah good thing Im not one..

[SG dan]

usually the animals that are born like that die within a few days of birth i think

[Hypnotronic]

I'm pretty sure something like this, although totally random and bizarre, would occur in nature without any human intervention. I doubt the artificial insemination had anything to do with the defect.

[John Burr]

It's actually kinda cute! I mean with calves the cutest part is the eyes and this one has 4 of them!

Lucky cow...

BSR

[Terren]

It's actually kinda cute! I mean with calves the cutest part is the eyes and this one has 4 of them!

Lucky cow...

BSR

Hey, aren't there countries that eat cow eyes? This thing could catch on!

:hammer:

[thelivingend]

Whoa it's like a super cow. Osama must be responsible

[zeppelinrocks7]

thats totaly normal

just go to new jersey

[Zappa]

sure it happens in nature. we here about conjoined twins and stuff like that all the time. people joined at the head or torso. i just don't think that we need a genetically superior cow.
my steaks taste fine.

[shiggity]

Heldreth feeds her through a tube, and acknowledges he probably can't maintain that feeding schedule for long.
can you say "VEAL"

[Ttone]

"Heldreth feeds her through a tube, and acknowledges he probably can't maintain that feeding schedule for long."

He should just put her down I am sure it is painfull for her, but I bet he's enjoying the media exposure.

I would love to artificially inceminate him with some buckshot up the aass

[eNDOR]

It's terrible that on the way things like this happen, but genetic manipulation is what is going to save us humans from ourselves in the end. What do I mean by this? We are growing and the planet isn't. It wont take long until there ain't food enough for everybody anymore. For example, most of the rice in China depends on water that is comes from melting glaciers. When all of them has melted because of global warming, there won't be any water to water the rice and make it grow. This will result in the majority of rice production in China will cease- not big a deal you might say but the rice from China feeds 1/3 of the world.

By genetic manipulation and engineering we can alter many things in anything that grows. I don't support genetic manipulation when it comes to animals, but to plants. We have allready been able to produce plants (not sure wich ones, was a while ago since I studied this) that require far less water, solar-energy and grows at a faster rate.

Imagine genetic technology evolving to a state where we can produce food from plants that grows at a pace that new food can be harvesed everyday. Theoretically, this would result in food for literally everybody on earth at a very low price. We're halfway there allready.

If we speed up time greatly, we will in the end be able to produce meat, fish and such through genetic engineering. What I mean is that we would be able to artificially make meat without having to slaughter animals.

This might seem a little science-fiction but I read alot about this in school about a year ago and it is possible to do this once we've developed the science to that stage. Why is it possible? Because we've allready done it, but with half-assed results (3-legged chickens, double-faced calves).

On the other hand, there are fields that grow various foods that are artificial that grows at a very quick pace, doesen't require much water and are much cheaper in comparison to regular food. Once we've used this technology for so long that it has been proven that there isn't any shortterm och longterm problems that can be substained (genetic food has been avaliable since the 90's and no one has become sick or anything by consuming it).

Keeping this in mind, I accept that there can be minor falls during the proccess, aslong as it doesen't get out of hand.

EDIT: I'm not hoping to anger someone, just wanted to shed some light on the subject. Also note that english isn't my main language so there might be some translational problems.

[Zappa]

i know they have been genetically altering beans and fruits and things like that for some time to give higher yields..tomatos that are 20% larger....**** like that.

personally, i'm cool with the maters of old

[gman6974]

Yea this is why I hate humans.
Wouldn't go as far as hated them, but I sure as hell don't like a lot of them.

[eNDOR]

i know they have been genetically altering beans and fruits and things like that for some time to give higher yields..tomatos that are 20% larger....**** like that.

personally, i'm cool with the maters of old

Yes I am too, but in time the maters of the old isn't gonna do us **** when it comes to feeding the entire population as we unfortunatly allready are overgrown.

[saintal]

Look what the Japanese have done without using genetic engineering :) :
http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/images/blog/square-watermelon.jpg

[kernix]

Well, genetically it might be best, though it turned out into a conjoined thing. Poor calf, it really is sad. Poor thing.


Yeah man - I agree - too bad they have to live in confined spaces only to be slaughtered, now this one has this thing going on.

[Hypnotronic]

What the hell are those? And how did they make them, with cardboard box engineering?

[ProGuitarN00b]

Ugh, I think I may be sick to my stomach...that's just sick and wrong.

Why the **** haven't they put it down, put it down for god's sake.

The sickest part is that there are crowds of people wanting to see it. You must be sick in the head to get enjoyment out of seeing some poor twisted creature like a freak show. *******s. :mad:

[Zappa]

What the hell are those? And how did they make them, with cardboard box engineering?


this is just a guess but i'm going to say square watermelons......ya think?

that is a good idea though. they can store more watermelons in a smaller space with them square

got a link to how they did that?

thats a pretty cool idea. they just put that box around it and it forces the melon to grow square.

[kernix]

Yea this is why I hate humans.


I sure have seen the darker side of humans, and agree - at least as to the evil nasty types - and as for the cow and other animal torture - I may end up going vegetarian - unless I can kill my own meat and not feel remorse - it's too easy to let the slaughter house do the dirty work, then you just go to the supermarket and buy ready packaged meat.

[saintal]

Yup, square watermelons! They force them to grow in tempered glass boxes.

The Japanese need the smaller, easier to store and stack watermelons for their tiny Japanese refrigerators.


You're such a square... (http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/east/06/15/square.watermelon/index.html)

[Zappa]

Yup, square watermelons! They force them to grow in tempered glass boxes.

The Japanese need the smaller, easier to store and stack watermelons for their tiny Japanese refrigerators.


You're such a square... (http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/east/06/15/square.watermelon/index.html)


thats too cool man. thats a great idea. why don't we do that in these parts?

no genetic alterations or anything like that. glass box so it gets light on all sides.....sweet.

i did that a lot.

from now on, i want all my fruit to be square

[KeithB]

Sadly, the 2-faced calf has died. :(
Here's a link to the story:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070206/ap_on_fe_st/two_faced_calf_3

[DaMacca]

I have known many two-faced people in my time. I would never have thought that cows could be like that - they have such innocent gentle natures. ;)

[Hypnotronic]

I'm sorry for your loss, DaMacca. Was he a relative of yours? ^^^^^

[DaMacca]

I'm sorry for your loss, DaMacca. Was he a relative of yours? ^^^^^

Thankfully not. In my neck of the woods we prefer to inseminate our cows the natural (and fun) way. Just looking at those metal rods they use are enough to make one's eyes water. Mooo