“We take the calves as soon as possible [after birth]. We let the cow lick it, just for their own benefit really.
“It’s far better that we feed the calves, make sure they get the colostrum – which is the first milk which has all the antibodies in – to make sure that the calf will go on and have a happy healthy life.
“They’re just sort of in a gang with the rest of the calves now, doing really really well.”
Mr Hicks said it was an artificial insemination (AI) pregnancy, but he does not believe that affected the outcome.
“It’s luck really and I did buy a lottery ticket, but obviously I’m still at work so that didn’t quite pay off.”
The mother is also doing well, he said, adding: “She had a little bit more TLC and plenty of fluids, but she’s absolutely flying – and doesn’t know how famous she is.”
