A healthy female cow with five legs was found living in central Thailand.

The 14-year-old creature named Jao Ha, born at a farm in Prachin Buri province, had a tiny extra limb sticking out of her front leg.

The unusual leg which was only about 20cm-long had three-toed hooves that were curled outward while other normal cows only have two.

Aside from the extra leg, she had a larger body than other cows her age and grew up to be a healthy animal without having any complications.

Farmer Panuwat Khunbua, 32, said: ‘I only noticed the extra leg when Jao Ha started to walk. I never had a problem with my pet.’

Panuwat added that lottery-obsessed strangers would show up at his house to ask for a number to use for their tickets as they believed that the animal brought luck.

He said: ‘I tried keeping her hidden but people still show up at my house. Some even offer to purchase my cow but I won’t let it happen. I will take care of her until she dies.

The farmer also noticed a strange behaviour that only the female cow had which made him believe even more that she was a special animal.

He said: ‘Other cows were also very naughty but Jao Ha was easy to look after. The only problem was she behaves like a male cow. She tries to mate with other female cows in my farm.’

The cow is believed to suffer from Polymelia – a birth defect causing more than the usual number of limbs. In humans and most land-dwelling vertebrates, this means having five or more limbs. The extra limb is most commonly shrunken or deformed.