Bovine/Freemartinism

Description Sexing of female co-twin to a male calf
Species Bovine
Sample EDTA anticoagulated blood Blood on FTA paper
Information Freemartinism is a frequent anomaly in bovine for female co-twin to a male calf. During a pregnancy of twin cattle, in 90% of the twin animals, the blood is in touch with each other. In twins of different sexes (male and female calves in one twin) this phenomenon of blood exchange results in lower fertility of the female calves. A DNA-test can elucidate if a female cow has male characteristics.