MIlk Breeds - Heifers as twins all sterile?

jode · #1 04/27/09, 04:30 PM

I was recently told that in milk breeds, cows that are born as twins are almost always sterile/infertile. Is there any truth to that? If so, is it 100% or just a higher likelihood?

topside1 · #2 04/27/09, 04:51 PM

Heifer/Heifer twins are fertile.
Heifer/Bull twins heifer is not fertile in 98% of the time....Topside

Cliff · #3 04/27/09, 05:33 PM

Not just in milk breeds. Any twins.

randiliana · #4 04/27/09, 07:26 PM

Only heifers that are in a herifer/bull set. Heifer/Heifer twins are fine. Something like 92% of heifers that are twin to a bull will be sterile.

Cliff · #5 04/27/09, 07:30 PM

Yes, topside had already stated that. I meant any bovine twins, sorry.

Rich Taber · #6 05/04/09, 09:41 AM

This is in fact the case. For some reason heifers born twin to a bull do not develop their reproductive parts successfully. 90% or better tend to be sterile, or "freemartins". A vet can check a heifer to see if she might be a breeder. Otherwise, you might as well raise such a heifer for slaughter.