Calf Born With Smiley Face Markings Lands Role As Farm Lawnmower For Life

March 20, 2023

On dairy farms, excess male calves are usually sold off for meat.

But one of the 700 calves born this year at BellBrook Holsteins in West Gippsland, Victoria, Australia, has secured his place as a pet.

Credit: Bellbrook Holsteins

Farm owners Megan and Barry Coster have bred thousands of calves over the years, but said they have never seen markings like this.

"We've seen some number sevens or love hearts on the head and a few strange markings, but we've never seen anything that resembles a smiley face before," Megan told ABC News.

Barry was the first to spot the calf and he immediately snapped a picture and sent it to his wife. When she looked at the photo she said she had to zoom in to make sure no one was playing a prank on her.

"I couldn't believe it — I actually zoomed in at first to make sure that none of our workers had added some extra lines or anything, " she said.

They decided to name him "Happy" and keep him as a pet.

He will live out his days among the other bulls as a "lawnmower for life."