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Itsybitsy
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 1325
Location: Leicestershire
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 Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Jan wrote: |
A neighbour has, so he says, had several sets of twins from his pedigree AA where the heifers have gone on to breed, and we have had single born, top notch heifers that we've had hell of a job to get in calf. |
The problem is if they share the same blood supply, the male hormone testosterone overides the female hormone with the result being that the females' reproductive organs do not develop. It's a 90+% chance of that happening, so some females are born twin to a bull and will go on to breed, but the majority do not, it doesn't reduce fertility, there is no chance that such a heifer will get in calf, if you've had good heifers that have been difficult to get in calf then that's a different problem. Occasionally as well you will get a single heifer that had a twin male which failed to contine to develop, about 16 weeks gestation is about the cut off point.
Itsybitsy |
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Spana
Joined: 30 Apr 2005
Posts: 2062
Location: North Cornwall
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 10:12 am Post subject: |
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| Itsybitsy wrote: |
Occasionally as well you will get a single heifer that had a twin male which failed to contine to develop, about 16 weeks gestation is about the cut off point.
Itsybitsy |
Thats really interesting Itsy, you know I've never considered that happening  |
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Itsybitsy
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 1325
Location: Leicestershire
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Jan wrote: |
Thats really interesting Itsy, you know I've never considered that happening |
Well why would you really? As a small beef producer the chances of it happening to you are really really small, so if you've never come across it then it's not something you would consider.
The majority of my work is with the dairy side who will keep more intense records, and as a lot of them are scanned early, between 4 & 8 weeks then more twins are picked up, as opposed to my beef customers who may be spring calvers and scan when the cows come in in October or November and then it's too late to pick up a twin, but you occasionally get a freemartin born that didn't apparently have a brother, but it is rare.
I am full of useless information 
Itsybitsy |
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fairislefaerie
Joined: 12 Mar 2007
Posts: 542
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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useless information is always handy to have arround )
Angela |
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Itsybitsy
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 1325
Location: Leicestershire
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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I know 
When I said Hamish might not grow quite as big - I meant compared to what he should be, within the breed type he is. Those Canadian (?) Aberdeen Angus are huge, I don't suppose you would want something that big, it would be inappropriate given your location.
Itsybitsy |
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fairislefaerie
Joined: 12 Mar 2007
Posts: 542
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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exactly, hopefully, he will turn out into a good compact TRUE Aberdeen Angus, as the breed started out & became known for being.
Yep, i for one am delighted ! to see a strong trend in returning to the old origional lines for AA's, i think the canadian & english lines just look plain stupid with the over long legs & far to long a top line, but then im an old stick in the mud lol
Angela |
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milkmaid
Joined: 19 Apr 2005
Posts: 6895
Location: isle of lewis
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:03 am Post subject: |
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| isn't the beef from the hefier ment to be really good , |
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fairislefaerie
Joined: 12 Mar 2007
Posts: 542
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:33 am Post subject: |
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even better if its allowed the time it needs to mature naturally.
MMmmm Tbone's, fillet roasts, pot roast silverside... yorkie puds... mouth watering yet ??
Angela |
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Itsybitsy
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 1325
Location: Leicestershire
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:19 am Post subject: |
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| fairislefaerie wrote: | even better if its allowed the time it needs to mature naturally.
MMmmm Tbone's, fillet roasts, pot roast silverside... yorkie puds... mouth watering yet ??
Angela |
Yes 
Just one more thing though (more useless information ) Freemartins are always a bit on the scrawny side - it's often what gives the clue, I suppose it's the lack of hormones. They are a funny shape, difficult to describe, but kill on age - don't wait for her to "finish" cos if she is a freemartin you could end up the wrong side of 30 months.
Itsybitsy |
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milkmaid
Joined: 19 Apr 2005
Posts: 6895
Location: isle of lewis
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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| interesting ,the lady i was talking to about them after the course said about them tasting good but she did say it was many years ago and she is in her 60s |
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mcleod-girls
Joined: 15 Jan 2007
Posts: 1345
Location: Banff, Aberdeenshire
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:56 am Post subject: |
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interesting thread 
ps I love so called "useless" information itsy |
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CP
Moderator
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 14724
Location: Hampshire
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:02 am Post subject: |
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Me too , even though we don't have any other animals nor likely to have any.  (Maybe one day it will be an answer at a pub quiz!!! ) |
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mcleod-girls
Joined: 15 Jan 2007
Posts: 1345
Location: Banff, Aberdeenshire
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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I have "virtual" animals - in my dreams! and love reading books about crofting and livestock.
(that sounds really sad!) |
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milkmaid
Joined: 19 Apr 2005
Posts: 6895
Location: isle of lewis
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:42 pm Post subject: |
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no so do i but the kids say i need a life  |
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Spana
Joined: 30 Apr 2005
Posts: 2062
Location: North Cornwall
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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| I go to bed with Thompson & Morgan and the Highland Cattle year book |
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