Would you keep/buy a twin as a herd bull?

I have a Dixie Erica X Tour of Duty bull calf who is looking pretty good. He was born twin to a heifer. Heifer didn't make it, found her too late. So trying to decide if he is worth raising as a bull and selling him at the local beef expo. Have a full sib heifer from last year who is pretty good. Very deep bodied, moderate framed heifer, with a fantastic temperament. Good EPD's as well. So assuming he meets visual and performance standards as he continues to grow is it worthwhile to keep him a bull or is it standard practice to cut twins? Thanks!

No reason not to keep him for a bull if he's good enough.  I believe Clark, one of the more popular bulls of his era, was a twin. 

I would not buy a bull that was a twin knowingly. I have only had two sets of twins on my farm in the last 30 years. One time it worked out the other not so good. I guess it would depend on how you calved. Personally, twins aren't for me. I would steer him, but on the other hand you can always leave him a bull and see where the best market is. You can always band or cut him later, but you sure can't undo it.

Don't cull him just because he's a twin.  Many twins have gone on to be top sellers and dominant herdsires.  For an example look up Soo Line Motive 9016 (he's a twin).

A twin can have a greater chance of throwing twins as it seems to follow certain genetics.  Calves from a bull twin are not noticeably different from a non-twin - have used AI twin before successfully.

I-67 is a twin out of a first calf heifer and both he and his twin are in collection

parkerqb7 said:

I-67 is a twin out of a first calf heifer and both he and his twin are in collection

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NOt to side track the thread- I didn't know that. Interesting.


If the twin is not sterile no reason if he is what you are breeding for not to keep him as a bull. but as said previously, a twin has greater chance of throwing twins.

Heifers retained from a bull who was a twin, are more likely to have twins.  I hate twins.  If he's used as a terminal sire, I would use him if I liked him.