A calf that was born with smiley face markings on its belly is to be spared the abattoir and will now have a life as a "lawnmower".
Megan and Barry Coster breed about 700 calves a year at their stud farm in Ripplebrook in West Gippsland, Australia, but have never seen markings like this.
The black and white Holstein calf will now be allowed to roam around and eat the lawns of farm workers, living a happy life in its new job as a lawnmower.
The calf has been nicknamed Happy because of its markings, which resemble two eyes, a nose and a smile.
The markings were first noticed by farmer Mr Coster when he was checking on his livestock on the farm near the town of Ripplebrook, in the state of Victoria.
“We've seen some number sevens or love hearts on the head and a few strange markings, but we've never seen anything that resembles a smiley face before,” Mrs Coster told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
“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.”
He continued: "I couldn't believe it — I actually zoomed in at first to make sure that none of our workers had added some extra lines or anything."
Happy became a quick hit on social media after Megan’s post.
“Wow that’s one for the record books surely,” one person commented.
“Oh my heart that is beautiful,” another person wrote.
“Even if you don’t want to name your livestock sometimes they demand it,” a third person said.
