Blessings from Heaven!

[JR05]

Well we are truely blessed! Our two older holsteins(8-10years old) finally gave us some little ones. We haven't had any calves from these two in several years...I know your asking why did we keep them, well just call me a softy. My question is on the twins..mom was a twin with a brother and these are a boy and girl. I was told forever that with cows the girl in the twin is a "free Martin" or sterile. If this is the case then mom wouldn't be giving me calves even though it is hard for her to get bred. Is this someones narrow mindness or is it true and I can't count on this little girl in the future? We have been waiting sooo long for her to be born and these are our Balwin's(2 year old Holstien bull that thinks he is a goat!) first calves! Please need some sound advice as hb wants to sell some of the herd before winter and I can't think of who to sell. We have the Holsteins-3 cows and bull, then we have the beef cows-6 girls ranging from 6 mos to 8 years old.Here are pics of new ones.





jr05

[darbyfamily]

No idea but wow, they are sure pretty calves! did you say the mom was a twin too? if thats the case, I'd say they were wrong before and they can be wrong again!

[matt_man]

It is very unlikely that a twin heifer to a bull will grow up to calve. It is not impossible but the odds are really not in your favor. There is a test that can be done to see if she is a freemartian.

Rachel

[randiliana]

There is about a 10% (or less) chance that a heifer twin to a bull will be fertile. As Rachel said, there is a blood test that can be done to see for sure if the heifer would be fertile or not.

Here is some info on it.
http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/exten/cc...reemartin.html

[topside1]

Also you can buy a freemartin probe. This type probe is cheap and simple to use. Jeffers may sell them, do a google...TJ

Almost forgot, congrats on the new calves, you must be pleased.