Freemartin

theroad

One of the cows delivered twins last night: male & female. Two questions: is the female always a freemartin? Also, is there a reliable test anyone knows of?
Ta,
James

whelan1

normally you will know by looking at the heifers vagina or your vet will be able to tell you , if the calves developed in the same sac the bull calf's bits develop before the females and she initially takes on male bits iykwim , then she develops herself if in seperate sacs in the cow she will be fine

irishh_bob

never once seen a twin heifer kept on farm at our place , always assumed they were useless , heard something like one in a thousand were capable of going in calf

greysides

The female is virtually always a freemartin. The twins foetal sack blood vessels join together and there is a common flow. The hormones from the developing male masculinise the female to varying degrees.

theroad

Thanks for all of that, it basically confirms what I'd heard before. Maybe I can get her (it?) taken as a bull calf...

red bull

Im a dairy farmer for over 30 years and got advise from an old man years ago on this matter. If the cow has two afterbirths [cleanings] then there is no problem. I have found this to be true.