Freemartin heifers
Robin Hall
We are currently raising three calves in the pen by the cow yard. They receive fresh warm milk twice daily and they are always excited to see the milk bucket arrive. The group consists of one dairy heifer (future milking cow) and male/female twins. With the twins, the female is infertile. When twins are male-female, a hormonal influence from the growing male calf can prevent the full development of the reproductive organs in the female. This occurs with about 90% of such twins and the infertile heifer is known as a Freemartin.
