Management
freemartinism because the male
twin may have been aborted
at an earlier stage of gestation,”
Selk said. “These so-called
hidden freemartins can be
difficult to identify if purchased
as replacement heifers.”
This is a major reason why OSU
Division of Agricultural Sciences
and Natural Resources animal
scientists and OSU Cooperative
Extension agricultural educators
recommend producers cull any
non-pregnant replacement
heifers soon after their
first breeding season.
Another reason is that female
cattle nursing twin calves
will require an estimated
13% more energy intake to
maintain body condition.
“Be aware the additional
suckling pressure on the cow
will extend the post-calving
anestrus period,” Selk says.
“Therefore, cows nursing twins
will take longer to rebreed
for next year’s calf crop.”
In some cases, Selk says
producers may want to consider
early weaning of twin calves
to allow the birth mother to
cycle in time with the other
cows in the herd. Otherwise, the
producer may be headed for
management headaches during
the next breeding season. I
Stotts is a communication
specialist with the Oklahoma
State University Division
of Agricultural Sciences.
148 | JUNE/JULY 2018