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So I was reading about twin births in cattle....

Whitewing

Well-known member
....and came across an interesting comment.

When fraternal twins are produced, one being female, it's estimated that 95% of those females are not fertile. :shock:

http://animalscience.ag.utk.edu/beef/pdf/NaturallyOccurringMultipleBirthsInCattle-FDK-2004.pdf

The pdf doesn't say anything about fraternal twins where both are female or conditions for identical twins as well.

Oh well, learn something new everyday. :D
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
bull and heifer- heifer is often a free martin unable to breed..
bull and bull or heifer and heifer--- usually no problems
 

Whitewing

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
bull and heifer- heifer is often a free martin unable to breed..
bull and bull or heifer and heifer--- usually no problems

Thanks OT, I was just about to post a possible explanation for the phenomenon which is that when there's a male calf present with a female calf in the uterus, the testes of the male develop more rapidly (earlier) than the reproductive organs of the female and those hormones like inhibit the development of the females calf's reproductive organs.

Like I've said, I'm new at this game and have a lot to learn. :?
 

rancherfred

Well-known member
Early in pregnancy the two fetuses share a blood supply. Eventually as the pregnancy continues a barrier develops and they no longer share blood supply. However, when they are still sharing blood supply they are also sharing a lot of other things in the blood stream. One of those things is hormones, particularly testosterone. As the testosterone circulates in the female fetus it sterilizes her sex organs so they don't develop. Most of the time the vaginal opening will just be a blind pouch.
 

Whitewing

Well-known member
rancherfred said:
Early in pregnancy the two fetuses share a blood supply. Eventually as the pregnancy continues a barrier develops and they no longer share blood supply. However, when they are still sharing blood supply they are also sharing a lot of other things in the blood stream. One of those things is hormones, particularly testosterone. As the testosterone circulates in the female fetus it sterilizes her sex organs so they don't develop. Most of the time the vaginal opening will just be a blind pouch.

Thanks Fred, well-said. :wink:
 

LCP

Well-known member
What about heifers that are singles that don't develop normal repro tracts? This year we had 2 yearling heifers that, while preg checking, the vet said they felt like freemartins but I know they were'nt twins. Any ideas?
 

Bullhauler

Well-known member
LCP said:
What about heifers that are singles that don't develop normal repro tracts? This year we had 2 yearling heifers that, while preg checking, the vet said they felt like freemartins but I know they were'nt twins. Any ideas?

They very well could be twins. I have found a mummified fetus kicked out with the after birth more then once.
 

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