Rare Calf With Third Ear on Its Back Born on Farm in Brazil's Minas Gerais

How a Calf in Minas Gerais Came to Be Born With Three Ears

A calf born on a rural property in Coromandel, in the Alto Paranaíba region of Minas Gerais, Brazil, has drawn attention for an unusual feature: it was born with three ears, one of them on its back.

Veterinarian Enrico Ortolani said the animal has a congenital malformation — an alteration that occurs during the development of the embryo. He estimates the anomaly probably appeared within the first 45 days of gestation, and noted that the condition is very rare, particularly because the extra ear is located outside the head.

Although the third ear is fully formed externally, it has no auditory function, since it lacks the internal structures needed to capture sound. According to Ortolani, the condition should not compromise the calf's quality of life, and the animal can live normally with the malformation.

The veterinarian added that the trait should not be transmitted to descendants, because it is a malformation rather than necessarily a hereditary genetic alteration. If the producer ever decides to remove the extra ear surgically, Ortolani's recommendation is that the procedure be performed only under the supervision of a qualified veterinarian.

What This Rare Anomaly Means for the Herd — and What It Doesn't

What a Congenital Malformation Actually Is

Ortolani's explanation frames the case in standard veterinary terms. A congenital malformation is a structural change that results from something going wrong during embryonic development, rather than from a defect written into the animal's genetic code. His estimate that the anomaly emerged in the first 45 days of gestation points to the phase in which the embryo's main structures are still taking shape — the period when such developmental accidents are most likely to occur.

Why 'Congenital' and 'Hereditary' Matter for a Herd

The most practically relevant distinction in this story is between a congenital malformation and a hereditary genetic alteration. If the extra ear is a one-off developmental accident, the calf does not carry a genetic defect that would reappear in its offspring — which is why Ortolani expects the trait not to be passed on. For a cattle producer, that difference matters for breeding decisions: an animal with a non-hereditary anomaly is not necessarily a risk to the bloodline's genetic soundness.

What the Report Leaves Open

The story is deliberately light on detail. It does not specify the calf's breed or sex, nor whether the owner intends to pursue surgery. It also relies on a single veterinary assessment rather than genetic testing, so the prediction that the trait will not be inherited is an expert judgment, not a laboratory-confirmed result. For a curiosity piece that is enough; for a producer weighing breeding decisions, it is the obvious question to put to a veterinarian.

What the Calf's Owner Should (and Shouldn't) Do

For the property owner, the practical message is that no treatment is required: the veterinarian says the calf can live normally with the extra ear, which has no hearing function and should not affect its health. If removal of the ear is ever considered, the procedure should be carried out only by a qualified veterinarian. And since the malformation is not expected to be hereditary, it should not, on the current evidence, influence decisions about the animal's future in the herd.