Economics of Twin Pregnancies in Dairy Cattle

Abstract

Twinning in Holstein dairy cows has increased over time concurrent with increased milk production. Twinning in dairy cattle is not desirable due to the negative effects on both cows that calve twins and calves born as twins that result in economic losses to dairy farms. Although a twin pregnancy could bring additional income from extra calves and shorten gestation length, twinning compromises milk production, increases the incidence of dystocia and perinatal mortality, decreases calf birth weight, increases the incidence of metabolic diseases, decreases fertility, increases the incidence of freemartinism, increases overall culling risks, and shortens the productive lifespan of cows. Based on a summary of economic analyses from several studies, the estimated losses due to twinning range between $59 to $161 per twin pregnancy. Most twinning in dairy cows is dizygotic and directly related to the incidence of double ovulations, and economic losses are greater for unilateral than for bilateral twins. Hormonal manipulation before artificial insemination that allows for timed artificial insemination is a primary strategy for decreasing twinning in dairy cows before it occurs by decreasing the incidence of double ovulation thereby decreasing conception of dizygotic twins and the associated negative economic consequences. When twins are diagnosed early during gestation, management options might include doing nothing, terminating the pregnancy, or attempting manual embryo reduction. Based on a recent economic analysis of these options, attempting manual embryo reduction decreased the economic losses of a twin pregnancy by $23 to $45.

Calving Ease Risk Factors and Subsequent Survival, Fertility and Milk Production in Italian Holstein Cows

“…The majority of calving difficulties with twins results from abnormal presentation of one or both fetuses at delivery rather than from large birth weight or physical size [41]. Reducing the untoward consequences of twinning can be achieved by ovulation synchronization protocols [43], periparturient diagnosis of twin pregnancies, (which allows timely administration of obstetrical assistance), and by genetic selection (avoiding selection of dams with multiple ovulations).…”

The Incidence of Ovulation and Detection of Genes Associated with Ovulation and Twinning Rates in Livestock

“…The study reports that the calf survival incidence from twin-and triplet-producing animals were relatively low, around 44% depending on the breed composition [70]. In a recent study of the economic analysis of multiple births, the economic loss to the livestock breeder from each twin calving was estimated at between $59 and $161 in cow-calf production systems [71], even if twin calving could reduce substantially beef meat production costs owing to more calf growth at weaning [69]. Thus twin or triplet calving causes to lessen overall cow reproductive efficiency, productivity, and thus the profitability of enterprises.…”

Transfer of a single fresh in vitro‐produced embryo may prevent twin pregnancy without compromising the fertility of the cow

“…It is widely accepted in dairy cattle that twin pregnancies are a significant clinical problem (Cabrera & Fricke, 2021; Widmer et al., 2021). During the late embryo/early foetal period, twins are diagnosed in up some 40% of pregnancies in older cows (Garcia‐Ispierto & López‐Gatius, 2019), of which 30% may suffer pregnancy loss before Day 60 of gestation (López‐Gatius et al., 2017) and more than 20% of cows that remain pregnant abort during the second or third trimester of gestation (López‐Gatius et al., 2021).…”

“…It is widely accepted in dairy cattle that twin pregnancies are a significant clinical problem (Cabrera & Fricke, 2021;Widmer et al, 2021).…”