Effects of Twinning on Reproductive Efficiency in a Holstein-Friesian Herd

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Abstract
Out of 7387 calvings in a Holstein-Friesian herd covering a 30-year period, 338, or 4.58%, were multiple births. Two of these were triplets. The twin combinations were 108 males: 154 male and female: 74 females. An estimated 13.68 [plus or minus]0.90% of the like-sexed twins were monozygous (maximum likelihood method). Twin calves were 55% males, as compared with 51.65% for the herd. Twinning rate was 1.3% for heifers and 4.4% at 2d calving (P < .001). Rates increased to 7.1% at the 10th calving (not significant). Mortality among twin calves was high by parturition time, averaging 41% of the males and 35% of the females. Twin cows reproduced as well as their singly born herd mates. Cows having twins before the 4th calving reproduced fewer times subsequently. Incidence of relative infertility was significantly greater after twinning, though average services per conception and calving intervals were not consistently different. Twinning is undesirable in dairy cattle because of increased infertility and a reduced number of female progeny from cows which have twins.

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