Where we live, if the female twin is born first it is assumed she can breed. If she is born second, then she is a freemartin. Another way to say it is if the heifer is bigger then the twin bull calf, chances are great she can breed. If born second they are raised like the steers for beef. Our vet said that most farmers don't test their freemartins and while the numbers state 80% chance the female born second will be a freemartin, he said not enough farmers give the female a chance so the numbers are most like no 100% correct. Sometimes you can tell the heifer is a freemartin and other times it's all in inside workings that you cant see. I remember hearing one farmer who kept his freemartin for beef and she was running with the bulls and steers. She got pregnant and he kept her as a breeding cow.
Roadkinglavared t1_j6kp21b wrote
Reply to TIL When a cow has opposite sex twins, the female twin is usually born intersex and infertile. This happens because the twins blood supplies are linked, which exposes the female to male sex hormones. by awawe
Where we live, if the female twin is born first it is assumed she can breed. If she is born second, then she is a freemartin. Another way to say it is if the heifer is bigger then the twin bull calf, chances are great she can breed. If born second they are raised like the steers for beef. Our vet said that most farmers don't test their freemartins and while the numbers state 80% chance the female born second will be a freemartin, he said not enough farmers give the female a chance so the numbers are most like no 100% correct. Sometimes you can tell the heifer is a freemartin and other times it's all in inside workings that you cant see. I remember hearing one farmer who kept his freemartin for beef and she was running with the bulls and steers. She got pregnant and he kept her as a breeding cow.