Lilli the calf born with six legs in Switzerland thriving

Six-legged calf "Lilli" stands in a pasture in Switzerland. Picture: AP

A COW born with two extra legs is thriving despite predictions it would not survive.

Lilli, a seven week old, six-legged calf has become a minor celebrity in Switzerland after being born on a farm south of the capital Bern.

The calf's owner, farmer Andreas Knutti, said her disability and curved spine would prevent her from becoming a milk cow in the future.

Despite this he could not put her down when she was born because it was "so full of life".

"Lilli" with owner Andreas Knutti in Weissenburg, Switzerland. Picture: AP

Mutations of this sort are not uncommon and in Lilli's probably occurred due to two embryos being merged in the womb.
Mr Knutti says if the cow continues to thrive it will soon join its companions in the Alpine pastures this summer.
Read more about Lily the calf born with six legs in Switzerland thriving at the Daily Mail.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/weird-true-freaky/calf-and-half-of-full-cream-dairy-milk/story-e6frflri-1226314568631#ixzz1u1oRcsmn

Six-legged calf wins Swiss hearts

Seven-week-old cow with two extra limbs doing well despite vet's predictions that she would not survive.

A six-legged calf has defied the odds by thriving despite a vet's prediction at birth that it would not survive.

Seven-week-old Lilli is a minor celebrity in her native Switzerland after local media were splashed with images of the calf frolicking in a sunny field.

Farmer Andreas Knutti from Weissenburg, 19 miles south of the capital, Bern, says he couldn't bring himself to euthanise the animal because she was "so full of life".

He told Swiss daily Blick on Thursday that a curve in her spine means that Lilli may never become a normal milk cow.

But Knutti says that if the calf stays healthy she will still be allowed to join the others when they head for alpine pastures this summer.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/29/six-legged-cow-switzerland