No birthday ‘Blues’ here for Mark’s kids

But the Co Tyrone farmer was left stuck for words when he headed out to the cattle shed at 5.30 on Monday morning to be greeted by two newly born Belgian Blue twin calves.

Thirty-seven-year-old Mark, who runs a herd of approximately 85 beef and dairy cattle along with his father Mervyn, had been expecting the mother to go into labour the night before.

But the dawn of a new week saw a very special delivery indeed, and now he’s planning on giving the calves - a male and a female - to his own children, Harry and Jasmine, who turn three and one respectively later this month.

“I thought it would be a nice gesture,” says Mark, who is married to wife Jenny, and says he himself has been “farming mad since I could walk.”

He takes up the story: “I thought she would have calved on Sunday night.

“When I got up at half five I couldn’t believe it - there were two Belgium Blues standing looking a suck.

“And that was the start of my day!”

Mark, who saw seven sets of twins born in a year, is pleased to report his newest additions are doing well so far.

And looking ahead, the Edwards family will be celebrating Harry’s third birthday tomorrow, Sunday, and Jasmine’s first on March 19.

“I thought it would be a nice gesture to give the female calf to Jasmine, and the male to Harry,” he says, adding that he hasn’t told his children of his intentions just yet.

“Jasmine is only just starting to take an interest in the farm and animals now,” he said.

“Harry has always enjoyed going round the cows etc., but he really has an interest now, and is stuck in everything.

“I thought it might be nice for them to look back on the pictures and memories when they are older, especially Jasmine, because you know yourself, second children don’t get nearly as much attention as the first.”

We’re quite sure that the presentation of these gorgeous calves are bound to make it a birthday that both Jasmine and Harry will enjoy!

Happy birthday!