small teats on holstien heifer

[chiefgriz]

I bought a holstien heifer about 4 months ago (bought from sale barn, I know now thats a mistake) I looked at her teats to make sure she had all 4, everything seemed o.k. I bought her to put on my brother-in-laws holstein that had just calved. Yesterday when we were feeding cubes, he looked at his heifer and commented how large her teats were. About 1" long with a bit of bag definition. I cornered my heifer to see if hers were the same size, and to my suprise, they were the same size as the day I bought her. They are no bigger than a pencil eraser. Both calves are the same age. I went online to try to find some information on irregular teats but found nothing that really gave specifics about when they start developing and what the average size should be. During my searches, I noticed a few topics concerning free martins. An ickie feeling came over me thinking that might be my case. Anybody have some insight on teat sizes for young holstein heifers. I hope I didnt pay money for a heifer I have to eat. Any thoughts....

 

[la4angus]

I hope I didnt pay money for a heifer I have to eat. Any thoughts....

Yep, you sure did. Now go get yourself a steer that you have to milk. Then you would really have something. :lol: :lol:

 

[Beefy]

its kind of rare to find good holstein heifers at a salebarn. most dairies keep them as replacements. except the freemartins...

 

[milkmaid]

Sounds like a freemartin. That's one of the more obvious signs - BB sized teats that never get any bigger. Lift her tail and compare what you see with "normal" on your BIL's calf.

 

[Scotty]

I had one that had the same problem one time. She calved but never came into milk. I asked some others and they said some freemartins will calve but never do any good.


Scotty

 

[WarriorPatriot]

Yup I think you have a freemartin. Their teats do stay rather small..I have a 3 month old freemartin Holstein and even though shes still a calf you can see from the size of hers that they will not get any bigger. You can also tell if she has a mis shapen vulva sometimes

 

[Bez!]

I had one that had the same problem one time. She calved but never came into milk. I asked some others and they said some freemartins will calve but never do any good.


Scotty

Freemartin calve?

Do not think so.

Bez!

 

[Scotty]

I had one that had the same problem one time. She calved but never came into milk. I asked some others and they said some freemartins will calve but never do any good.


Scotty

Freemartin calve?

Do not think so.

Bez!

Its rare but what ever you think. Some can and do.


Scotty

 

[msscamp]

I had one that had the same problem one time. She calved but never came into milk. I asked some others and they said some freemartins will calve but never do any good.


Scotty

I'm confused - I thought the whole meaning behind the term 'freemartin' was that the heifer was infertile and COULDN'T breed, not just that she was born twin to a bull. Am I wrong?

 

[Scotty]

I had one that had the same problem one time. She calved but never came into milk. I asked some others and they said some freemartins will calve but never do any good.


Scotty

I'm confused - I thought the whole meaning behind the term 'freemartin' was that the heifer was infertile and COULDN'T breed, not just that she was born twin to a bull. Am I wrong?

Maybe. I will not post his name but another "cattleman" has posted about there being a small %that can. I also stated I had one. I really did not know if she was one or not. My vet, an Texas AM grad. stated she could be one. That is when I posted about it on these boards.


Scotty

 

[Scotty]

http://www.greenapple.com/~jorp/amzanim/freemartin.htm


Did I read this right. 90 % infertile. 100% - 90%= 10%. HMMMMMMM, small % like I was told.


Scotty

 

[msscamp]

www.greenapple.com/~jorp/amzanim/freemartin.htm


Did I read this right. 90 % infertile. 100% - 90%= 10%. HMMMMMMM, small % like I was told.


Scotty

Yes, you read it right. Thanks!

 

[Medic24]

Yup.........freemartins can sometimes breed successfully, but I sure would not hold my breath waiting for it to ever happen. :cboy:

 

[Bez!]

Yup.........freemartins can sometimes breed successfully, but I sure would not hold my breath waiting for it to ever happen. :cboy:

Well, I am an idiot - why are they called Freemartins if they can breed?

Bez!

 

[Scotty]

I am not calling you an idiot. Quite the contrary. Any way I guesse if they breed then they are not called freemartins. I son't know specifically but the article i put on this boards called a freemartin the female born in a set of twins with a bull calve or the female born to a set of twins were unknown to the breeder the bull calve was obsorbed.


Scotty

 

[Bez!]

I am not calling you an idiot. Quite the contrary. Any way I guesse if they breed then they are not called freemartins. I son't know specifically but the article i put on this boards called a freemartin the female born in a set of twins with a bull calve or the female born to a set of twins were unknown to the breeder the bull calve was obsorbed.


Scotty

I can assure you that I know you are not calling me names - I am pointing at myself - I still cannot understand how a true Freemartin can breed. Hence the comment about me being an idiot - I say it all the time trust me. :lol:

It is well known that a small percentage of bull/heifer twins will create a fertile heifer calf - therefore not a Freemartin.

Perhaps that is where what I believe to be a mis-communication comes from?

Bez!

 

[Beef11]

Freemartinism isn't a sure thing as far as infertility. It just means that they where a twin and the other calf was a bull. Due to the placental arrangment in bovines the heifer is exposed to TDF causing it to delay development of female reproductive organs and take on some more masculine traits. In the end the heifer is born with underdeveloped repro parts. I was told that about 5% could calve i won't argue with 10%.

 

[msscamp]

Yup.........freemartins can sometimes breed successfully, but I sure would not hold my breath waiting for it to ever happen. :cboy:

Well, I am an idiot - why are they called Freemartins if they can breed?

Bez!

The term freemartin refers to the fact that she was a twin to a bull. 90% of freemartins are sterile.

 

[WarriorPatriot]

I'm going to have my freemartin AI when shes older, yeah small percentage, but if she doesnt carry shes either going to be a pet or dinner :lol:

 

[MikeC]

I'm going to have my freemartin AI when shes older, yeah small percentage, but if she doesnt carry shes either going to be a pet or dinner :lol:

I want to hear what the AI tech says after this one. 8)