J. Anim Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J. Anim Sci. 1978. 46:449-452.
© 1978 American Society of Animal Science
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Anderson, G. B.
Right arrow Articles by Wright, R. W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Anderson, G. B.
Right arrow Articles by Wright, R. W., Jr.

Induction of Twinning in Beef Heifers by Bilateral Embryo Transfer

G. B. Anderson, P. T. Cupps, M. Drost1, M. B. Horton and R. W. Wright, Jr.2,3,

University of California4, Davis 95616

Abstract

Induction of twinning was attempted in 48 virgin beef heifers by bilateral surgical embryo transfer. Thirty-six heifers (75%) were diagnosed pregnant by rectal palpation at 45 to 60 days of gestation; 26 heifers produced 16 sets of twins and 10 single calves. Of the remaining 10 pregnant heifers that did not calve five returned to estrus without an observed abortion and five aborted twin fetuses. Twin calves had a lower birth weight (P<.005), weaning weight (P<.005), and average daily gain to weaning (P<.005) than singles when weaned at approximately 60 days of age. The same trends were observed with calves weaned at approximately 160 days of age, but these differences were not statistically significantly. Dystocia was not observed in females producing twins. Three of the animals producing twins had retained placentas.

Footnotes

1 Department of Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine. Present address: College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.

2 Present address: Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman 99163.

3 The authors acknowledge important contributions made to this project by J. Baldwin, Dr. R. BonDurant, B. Darien, S. Donahue, Dr. B. Duelke, J. Harris, W. Neel, B. Parker, D. Peters and R. Scadden. We thank the Upjohn Company for supplying the prostaglandin F2{alpha} used in this study.

4 Department of Animal Science.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1978 by the American Society of Animal Science.