The calf was born last Wednesday on the farm of Heather Taccetta in Kerrville, Texas, who immediately noticed his impressive artistic abilities – tongue sticking out and all.

The Hill Country visitor centre can be credited for bringing photographic evidence of the extraordinary phenomenon to the world via its Facebook page. The organisation hinted at a potential direct family link between the singer and the calf, asking: “Gene Simmons, where were you on or about 25 November, 2016?”

Genie the rock star calf has since made headlines across the US and seems destined for worldwide fame. Gene Simmons himself acknowledged his bovine double on Twitter at the weekend.

Heather has since told the Associated Press that Genie “is a family favourite and won’t be sold for slaughter”.