Friday, May 4, 2007

Calf Born With 6 Legs on Nebraska Farm

From The New York Times:
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LITCHFIELD, Neb. (AP) -- A days-old black Angus calf romps about a central Nebraska farm just like any other -- only this one romps with six legs. ''He's a real freak,'' said Brian Slocum, who said the calf was born Sunday to one of his cows. ''I've never seen anything like this before.''

The two extra appendages -- one a front leg, the other a back -- extend from the calf's pelvic area. The longer of the two extra legs doesn't quite reach the ground, and they don't interfere with the calf's mobility.

The unnamed calf also has organs for both sexes and a surgically supplied rectum.

''I'm curious to see what happens,'' [Slocum] said.


This is a fine candidate for a New Yorker-style contest: come up with the best joke line. Extra credit for plausible links to genetic engineering and/or potential military applications (e.g., the calf can operate an automatic weapon and simultaneously dispense toxic gas while at full gallop. Do calves gallup?)

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