Farmer Thrilled With Rare Donkey Twins

This is one lucky farmer! ~Declan

Farmer thrilled with rare donkey twins

Wednesday, December 04, 2013  As posted on Irish Examiner

By Donal Hickey

Christmas has come early for animal lover Cormac Williams whose pet donkey, named Tulip, has given birth to twin foals.

The twin foals with their mother Tulip at the home of Cormac Williams at Brewsterfield, near Killarney, Co Kerry.   Picture: Dan Linehan

Twins are extremely rare in donkeys, with only a few pairs currently known in the world, and when twins are born, one invariably dies.

However, the twins born on the Williams’ farm, in Brewsterfield, outside Killarney, Co Kerry, less than two weeks ago are both thriving.



“From my research I’ve found that 1.5% of mares have twins and the twins survive in only 10% of cases,’’ Mr Williams said.

“I’m really thrilled to have them here, as twin donkeys are so unusual. They’re both hale and hearty and full of life.’’

Snowy white with brown patches, the Brewsterfield twins are running around the field under their eight-year-old mother’s watchful eye.

Tulip is one of seven donkeys on the farm, also home to the stallion that sired the twins.

“Tulip is a gentle, placid animal and highly intelligent. If you left a gate open she wouldn’t be long spotting it and would be gone out within seconds,’’ Mr Williams said.

Donkeys have been on the farm for as long he can remember and he once took milk to the local creamery in a donkey cart.

If anybody is looking for live animals for a Christmas crib, Mr Williams said he would be happy to give them the twins on loan.