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Roadkinglavared t1_j6kp21b wrote

Where we live, if the female twin is born first it is assumed she can breed. If she is born second, then she is a freemartin. Another way to say it is if the heifer is bigger then the twin bull calf, chances are great she can breed. If born second they are raised like the steers for beef. Our vet said that most farmers don't test their freemartins and while the numbers state 80% chance the female born second will be a freemartin, he said not enough farmers give the female a chance so the numbers are most like no 100% correct. Sometimes you can tell the heifer is a freemartin and other times it's all in inside workings that you cant see. I remember hearing one farmer who kept his freemartin for beef and she was running with the bulls and steers. She got pregnant and he kept her as a breeding cow.

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gwaydms t1_j6kuk8o wrote

The one on Dr. Pol had a blind vagina, and was injured by the bull. Pol saved her life so she could be raised as a steer

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chantillylace9 t1_j6l6sk8 wrote

A…a……a…..WHAT vagina?

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gwaydms t1_j6l7k1z wrote

A freemartin often doesn't have internal reproductive organs. A blind passage ends without connecting to anything else, like the unfortunate bovine's vagina. That's why she was injured by the bull.

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chantillylace9 t1_j6mqpl7 wrote

This is both better and worse than I had imagined. I sure hope this isn’t very common. And I’m even more glad that doesn’t happen with human twins

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snogard_dragons t1_j6lybjs wrote

Doc Pol knows what’s up

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gwaydms t1_j6m0knu wrote

He's 80, and still practicing AFAIK. As long as he can do the hard work, he will.

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kelldricked t1_j6m38qd wrote

I always love watching that show untill he picks the gloves and shoves his entire arm into the hole of a cow, donkey or horse.

Then i suddenly regret watching it, while eating and pretend like the show doesnt exist for 3 months. Then i forget why i never watch it and the cycle repeats.

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wotmate t1_j6mfbl6 wrote

You should try it sometime, it's quite warm.

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Hobbs512 t1_j6ndao2 wrote

If the calf can breed, are there any additional risks such as birth defects at play?

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