Calf with 2 faces wins over dairyman

Star, a calf born with two faces, is getting star treatment from dairyman Kirk Heldreth. Despite her malformed mouth, Star has been feeding from a bottle and is winning over Heldreth, who didn't expect her to live long after her Dec. 27 birth. He had considered donating the calf to Virginia Tech for scientific purposes, or even selling her for show.

"We'd like to keep the calf for a while and see how she does," he said.

Heldreth said he and his family have grown too attached to her to let her become a display piece. Star had been drawing the curious to Heldreth's southwest Virginia farm. He still sees about 40 to 50 visitors daily.

"She amazes us every day," he told the Bristol Herald-Courier.

Star feeds twice a day, normally drinking about two bottles of milk at each sitting. She often is cradled during feeding.

"We've spoiled her," he said.

While otherwise normal, Star has one upper jaw and two lower jaws. Heldreth believed initially she would have to be tube-fed. He's not sure whether she will be able to eat feed like a normal heifer.

"The unique thing about (Star) is she's got the will to survive more than any calf I've ever seen," Heldreth said.

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Information from: Bristol Herald Courier, http://www.bristolnews.com