question about twin calves

[hyamiranda]

I've heard a couple times now that if a cow has a bull and a heifer calf twins, that they are sterile. Is that true?

[mamahen]

The heifer could be sterile. Called "freemartin" - it is caused by the testosterone from the bull calf twin in utero.

The bull would NOT be sterile and in some cases the heifer could be fine.

Confusing, I know. Just consider all heifers from a bull/heifer twin pair sterile. They can be checked by a vet & determined if they have a intact system.

Heifer/heifer twins are fine and bull/bull twins are fine.

[unclejae]

Mamahen is right. But every so often you get a "free martin" that breeds. We had one destined for the freezer and before I got her to the locker she had a heifer calf. We are now waiting for her to calve again this year. Sometimes luck is with you.

unclejae

[shagerman]

the vet can do a test and also check her. i had a set last year, she was missing her uterus. so i fed her out and butchered, my vet says 98% is sterile. and the test they take blood from the tail. send it off and it costs about 75.00