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

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


  • Total voters
    15

Belties R Us

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Jan 26, 2009
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281
Location
Ohio
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!
 

oakview

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Joined
May 29, 2008
Messages
1,346
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. 
 

b_kackley

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Mar 4, 2014
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278
Location
Guernsey County OHIO
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.
 

cowboy_nyk

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Aug 28, 2013
Messages
658
Location
Manitoba, Canada
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).

 

Simbeef10

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Joined
Mar 27, 2013
Messages
53
Location
NW Ohio
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.
 

parkerqb7

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Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Messages
84
Location
Utah
I-67 is a twin out of a first calf heifer and both he and his twin are in collection
 

OH Breeder

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Feb 14, 2007
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5,954
Location
Ada, Ohio
parkerqb7 said:
I-67 is a twin out of a first calf heifer and both he and his twin are in collection

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.
 

ai er

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Joined
Apr 25, 2007
Messages
121
Location
Eastern Ohio
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.
 
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