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These milking shorthorns arrived last month from Echo Dairy Farm in New Hampshire. Prim was born Dec. 3, 2013, and Nessie was born Jan. 22.
Visitors can now see the calves in their new home.
They are the April Animals of the Month.
The shorthorn is the most famous and influential breed of cattle in the history of agriculture, according to the museum. Since the early 1800s, and until recently, shorthorns were the most popular cattle in Britain, and were exported around the world. However, the breed is now in decline, and its rise and fall is reflective of great agricultural changes over the past two centuries.
The Milking Shorthorn is medium to large in size, with cows weighing up to 1,400 pounds and bulls about one ton. Milking Shorthorns are red, white or roan or a mixture of the three, sometimes with extensive speckling. Most cattle are horned.
This multi-purpose breed is used for dairy, beef, and working.
Heckscher Farm is open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Nature's Playground is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily weather permitting. Animal Embassy is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.
Admission to the Stamford Museum & Nature Center for adults is $10, seniors $8, college students with ID $6, children ages 4 to 17 is $5, members and children under 3 are free.
The Stamford Museum & Nature Center is located at 39 Scofieldtown Road in North Stamford. Call 203-322-1646 or visit the website for more information.
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