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bull and heifer twins

  • 26-03-2013 4:11pm
    #1
    Henwin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 630 ✭✭✭


    This year and last, we hav had 4 sets of twins and each time it was a bull and heifer.
    As we keep all heifers, is it true tat these will never go in calf.


Comments

  • #2
    Justjens
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 588 ✭✭✭Justjens


    There's about a 10 to 15% chance they'll breed, if the vet handles them he'll know straight away.

    Had the same issue a few years ago, she even came in bulling. Never told the vet she was a twin, with a bull, the expression of confusion on his face while handling her was something else.

    As soon as I told him it all made sense to him.....


  • #3
    bbam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,410 ✭✭✭bbam


    The chances are so small is it worth keeping them on with the idea of breeding them??


  • #4
    whelan1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,786 ✭✭✭✭whelan1


    we always give them a chance, but if you get your vet to have a look at them they should know if they have the right equipment to breed


  • #5
    yellow50HX
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,828 ✭✭✭yellow50HX


    Henwin wrote: »
    This year and last, we hav had 4 sets of twins and each time it was a bull and heifer.
    As we keep all heifers, is it true tat these will never go in calf.

    we havent had twins in a while but used to have a couple sets every year when we did AI. from what i rememebr if its one of each then the bull ends up with all the reproductive oragans while the heifer will be sterile in most of the case's. heifer will be fine just wont go in calf. dotn know the figure but we never had a half twin heifer go in calf so when ever we had anmore they were sold for beef and not breeding. didnt seem to have the same problem when it was twin heifers though


  • #6
    merryberry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 332 ✭✭merryberry


    yellow50HX wrote: »
    we havent had twins in a while but used to have a couple sets every year when we did AI. from what i rememebr if its one of each then the bull ends up with all the reproductive oragans while the heifer will be sterile in most of the case's. heifer will be fine just wont go in calf. dotn know the figure but we never had a half twin heifer go in calf so when ever we had anmore they were sold for beef and not breeding. didnt seem to have the same problem when it was twin heifers though

    This condition is known as freemartinism. A freemartin is genetically female, but has many characteristics of a male. The ovaries of the freemartin do not develop correctly, and they remain very small.


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  • #7
    babaracus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 220 ✭✭babaracus


    merryberry wrote: »
    This condition is known as freemartinism. A freemartin is genetically female, but has many characteristics of a male. The ovaries of the freemartin do not develop correctly, and they remain very small.

    You are 100% correct, the ovaries do not develop correctly in freemartins.

    It is caused by male hormones from the male twin affecting the female twin in the womb and "masculinising" her. It is complicated but it depends on the placenta set up on the womb so some females with a male twin can be ok depending on the placenta set-up.

    Funny that it only really affects cattle. Very rarely happens in other mammals. I think it can happen the odd odd time in sheep/goats but not in any other mammals including us humans (I think).


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