Home Ask the ExpertBreeding and GeneticsWhy cant a twin hiefier to a bull get pregnant?
 

Why cant a twin hiefier to a bull get pregnant?

 
Kristina marie Schwartz
February 9th 2012
Why is it when a dairy cow has twins and she has a bull and a hiefier why is it when the hiefier gets older why cant she get pregnant??
 
Lynsay Henderson
Canada

Freemartins


February 9th 2012
Hi Kristina,

Over 90% of the time with heifer and bull twins the heifer is born as a freemartin. The condition causes complete infertility due to a severely underdeveloped, or even male element containing reproductive tract. Freemartins are genetically female, but can have many male characteristics.

The biological explanation for the condition involves the placental sharing that occurs with twins. Around day 40 of pregnancy placental membranes join. When this occurs, blood and anitgens are mixed and cause each of the male and female twins to develop with some characteristics of the other sex. However, usually the male twin experiences reduced fertility as opposed to the complete infertility that females generally experience.
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