Lots of twins

Don-Wi · Dec 14, 2012

Mom called about an hour or so ago, they just got their 3rd set of twins (a pair of heifers, a pair of bulls, and a mixed set) this week alone. Not to mention the other 2 calves, so a total of 8 calves from 5 momas- which is very unusual for us. About a year ago we had a flu like bug go through the herd, and they lost 2 or 3, a few others never recovered and had to be shipped out.

Some of them aborted their calves way early, and others all got way off track with their cycles. They treated a bunch of them to bring them into heat, and I guess it made them throw a whole bunch of eggs. That makes atleast 5 sets of twins in the young stock. One set is a little over a month old, maybe 2 months, and there is a definate free martin in that mix. The heifers parts just don't look right, and she pees side ways..... She'll go in the freezer.

Just moved cattle around on Saturday and looks like their already getting tight. At one time they ussually have at most about 5 calves being brought up together, and they're only within a month or so. Now we've got 8 in a week, and 2 more due before Christmas yet.

Donovan from Wisconsin

JayinNY · Dec 14, 2012

You'll prolly have some free martins with the twins, are you
doing AI or natural bull service?

Don-Wi · Dec 14, 2012

AI- and yeah, we're pretty confident the heifers from the boy/girl sets are all no good. Like I said, the one pees side ways, and got my mom when she was feeding the calf next to her when they were younger yet.

Luckily, one set was 2 girls so they have a good pair there. I saw some of the calves the other day and I gotta say, they ate their wheaties that day.... Very energetic little guys. JUst the way we like them.

Donovan from Wisconsin

JayinNY · Dec 14, 2012

Sorry I dident read your full post, but glad u have some good
looking calves! Hope they do very good for you guys!

Dr. Walt · Dec 15, 2012

Donovan:

How long will you wait before putting the heifers
down? Unless they're in pain, or have other
infirmities, I was thinking you might wait until
they're at yearling stage so they have more meat on
their frames.

Don-Wi · Dec 15, 2012

Never said anything about putting them down- we raise them up like we would a steer and they go in the freezer, ours or some one elses.

They're no good as a heifer to breed and add to the herd, but as beef, they still taste just fine. And with everyone selling off their steers because they can't afford to feed them, the price of beef will be better in 6-18 mo. when beef is harder to get (not impossible to get, just higher price and more demand)

Donovan from Wisconsin

john in la · Dec 15, 2012

The reasons for double ovulation ie dizygous twinning are all over the place. You can get 10 different answers from 5 people.
There has not been enough research on the subject or I have not seen such research to give a good answer if you ask me.

I have seen some research that SUGGEST.......
cows with greater than average milk production being fed a higher energy diet near the time of artificial insemination after a synchronized ovulation exhibited a three-fold greater incidence of double ovulation than cows with less than average milk production

While some would think having twins makes more money threw greater calf crop research has shown it really cost the farmer money.

Mike (WA) · Dec 15, 2012

I haven't heard of "putting (a freemartin) down"- you just raise them like a steer, butcher them when they're ready. They're not in any pain, just won't reproduce.

Don-Wi · Dec 15, 2012

I can say our cows are producing fairly well lately, and the feed we got this year, despite being dry, is some of the nicest a guy could ask for. But we did have to treat them to bring them back into a cycle, after being checked by a vet and they just weren't doing anything.

Just like fertility treatment makes women throw more eggs, it made the cows throw more eggs too. In a normal year, we may get 1 or 2 sets of twins.... Not 3 sets within a week in a herd that only milks about 20-25 cows on average.... Heck, normally we don't even have 3 cows due in the same week.... And we had 5 cows in labor this week. Just a small herd, but the last few years things have been looking much better for my parents on the farm. Feed quality/volume production has been up, milk production has been up, and they haven't had to buy any hay/silage for 2 years now. Makes it easier to pay for fuel and seed that way...

Donovan from Wisconsin

Lots of twins

Don-Wi

Well-known Member

JayinNY

Well-known Member

Don-Wi

Well-known Member

JayinNY

Well-known Member

Dr. Walt

Well-known Member

Don-Wi

Well-known Member

john in la

Well-known Member

Mike (WA)

Well-known Member

Don-Wi

Well-known Member

Similar threads