It’s hard not to crack a smile when seeing this newborn calf.

This week, a farm near Ripplebrook in Australia welcomed a new arrival named Happy. The owners say they plan to keep the smiling cow around as a pet. Image credit: Bellbrook Holsteins

An Australian dairy farm recently posted a picture of their latest Holstein calf. While all newborn calves are adorable, this one has four markings on its side that resemble a smiley face, making it an even more joyous sight. In fact, it’s hard to imagine a more cheerful sign!

The farm owned by Barry Coster and his wife Megan is situated on the outskirts of Ripplebrook in Victoria, where they breed around 700 calves annually. Over the years, they have come across markings of various shapes and forms on their calves, from numbers to hearts. However, a smiley face like the one on their latest calf is entirely unprecedented. The calf boasts two evenly sized black spots on its side that look like eyes, a small spot resembling a nose, and a long curved marking that creates the impression of a smiling mouth. The Costers aptly named the calf Happy, given its cheerful appearance.

Apparently, Happy will also live a happy life as he is to be spared the abattoir. “A few of our workers are keen to have him as a pet and a lawnmower in their yards. He’ll be around for a while,” Megan Coster told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

And Happy has made his owners happy in another way too. Lardner Park, one of Australia’s premier regional exhibition venues and home to Farm World, Victoria’s leading agricultural and lifestyle event, has paid them AUD 10,000 for Happy to become the event’s mascot in the next 10 years. He brings luck indeed.

Sources: 1, 2, 3