Two-Faced Calf is a Star!

Just when you thought you saw it all: two-headed turtles, a seven-legged deer and a cat who does dishes (I made that one up, but a girl can dream, can't she?) along comes Star the two-headed calf that was born Dec. 27 at the Kirk Heldreth farm in Virginia. Already a month old, the little heifer continues to thrive.

Perhaps its due to the "star" treatment she's been getting from her owners, who admit to cradling the calf during feeding time. Despite her malformed mouth, Star has been feeding from a bottle with gusto. According to an Associated Press story, Heldreth had considered donating the calf to Virginia Tech for scientific purposes, or even selling her for show, but he'd rather keep her around awhile to see how she does.

He admits that his family have grown too attached to her to let her become a display piece. And why not? What kid wouldn't want to take a two-faced calf to school for Show and Tell? That would totally rock!! In fact, the family doesn't even have to cart the calf off anywhere to get attention. According to Heldreth, at least 40 to 50 visitors a day roll into the farmyard at his southwest Virginia farm to get a look at the little star.

While the calf manages to handle a nipple with her one upper jaw and two lower jaws, Heldreth is unsure whether or not the calf will be able to handle eating solids like grain and hay. But the farmer says she's a tough customer and has already defied the odds.