A Study of Multiple Births in a Holstein-Friesian Herd

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Abstract
Analysis of 937 observed parturitions within a self-containing, linebred Holstein-Friesian herd revealed the occurrence of 3.95% twin and 0.21% triplet births. According to the calving age of the cows, multiple births were extremely rare in the 1st parturition (0.74%) and reached a peak in the 5th (7.69%), 6th (9.8%), and 7th (7.32%). An association between twinning and milk production could not be demonstrated. This suggested that twinning in dairy cattle is an expression of increased fecundity without an influence upon milk producing capacity. Evidence is presented that twinning caused shortened gestation periods and greater parturition difficulties, with subsequently a highly increased number of retained placentae, decreased conception rate, lowered breeding efficiency and increased sterility. These results indicate that twinning in dairy cattle represents an undesirable characteristic. The hereditary influence upon multiple births was examined by comparisons between individual cow families and sire progenies, between cow groups of varying degrees of inbreeding, as well as by means of genealogical diagrams. The combined results of this investigational phase indicated strongly that twinning in dairy cattle is highly hereditary. It seems to be under the control of a small number of recessive genes. Since multiple births in cows are undesirable, it is suggested that efforts should be made to reduce its appearance by proper breeding methods and selection.

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