Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T19:51:33.829Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A comparison of the growth performance and blood composition of twin and singleton calves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

R. M. Kay ,
W. Little  and
B. A. Kitchenham
R. M. Kay
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Council, Institute for Research on Animal Diseases, Compton, Newbury, Berkshire RG16 0NN
W. Little
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Council, Institute for Research on Animal Diseases, Compton, Newbury, Berkshire RG16 0NN
B. A. Kitchenham
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Council, Institute for Research on Animal Diseases, Compton, Newbury, Berkshire RG16 0NN
Get access

Summary

1. The growth rate, feed-conversion ratio and blood composition of 14 twin calves were compared with those of 14 contemporary singletons.

2. The growth rate and feed-conversion ratio from weaning to 3 months were similar for twin and singleton calves.

3. The twin calves weighed significantly less at birth, weaning and 3 months of age but differences in weight were not significant at 1 year of age.

4. The mean packed cell volume (PCV) and the mean concentrations of blood glucose and haemoglobin, serum albumin, urea nitrogen, calcium, inorganic phosphate, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper, iron and total iron binding capacity, at 11, 12 and 13 weeks of age were similar in the two groups. Concentrations of globulin were significantly lower in the serum of twin calves than those in the serum of singletons.

5. There was significantly less variation between twin calves than among offspring from different dams for PCV and concentrations of blood haemoglobin and serum potassium and calcium.

6. The results did not reveal any overall disadvantage in twins as compared with singletons.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , February 1976 , pp. 19 - 25
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1976

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bellows, R. A., Short, R. E., Wiltbank, N. H. and Pahnish, O. F. 1970. Multiple births and artificial rearing of calves. J. Anim. Sci. 30: 1030 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Bowman, J. C. and Hendy, C. R. C. 1970. The incidence, repeatability and effect on dam performance of twinning in British Friesian cattle. Anim. Prod. 12: 55–62.Google Scholar
Gordon, I., Williams, G. and Edwards, J. 1962. The use of serum gonadotrophin (PMS) in the induction of twin-pregnancy in the cow. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 59:143–197.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hristov, V. 1966. [The growth and development of twin calves.] Zhivot. Nauk. 3: 761–768.Google Scholar
Kostov, S. 1968. [Effect of growth and development of calves during embryonic period on growth intensity after birth. I. Effect of birthweight of calves on growth intensity.] Nauchni Trud. vissh selskostop. Inst. Georgi Dimitrov zootekh Fak. 19: 61–68.Google Scholar
McEwan, A. D., Fisher, E. W., Selman, I. E. and Penhale, W. J. 1970. A turbidity test for the estimation of immune globulin levels in neonatal calf serum. Clinica chim. Acta 27: 155–163.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Manston, R., Whitlock, R. H. and Young, E. R. 1974. A comparison of anticoagulants for the analysis of glucose concentrations and for haematological measurements in bovine blood. J. comp. Path. Ther. 84: 59–65.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mauléon, P., Bosc, M-J., Courot, M., Pelot, J., Schneberger, J. and Ortavant, R. 1970. Twin births after restricted superovulation and production characters of the cows and their twin calves. Annls Biol. anim. Biochim. Biophys. 10. no. Hors-Sér 1: 113–122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ramsay, W. N. M. 1957. The determination of the total iron-binding capacity of serum. Clinica chim. Ada 2: 221–226.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rowlands, G. J., Little, W., Manston, R. and Dew, S. M. 1974. The effect of season on the composition of the blood of lactating and non-lactating cows as revealed from repeated metabolic profile tests on 24 dairy herds. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 83: 27–35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rowlands, G. J., Payne, J. M., Dew, S. M. and Manston, R. 1974. Individuality and heritability of the blood composition of calves with particular reference to the selection of stock with improved growth potential. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 82: 473–481.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rowson, L. E. A., Lawson, R. A. S. and Moor, R. M. 1971. Production of twins in cattle by egg transfer. J. Reprod. Fert. 25: 261–268.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schultze, A. B. 1966. Do we want twins? A.I. Dig. 14: 6, 12.Google Scholar
Tantawy, A. O. and Ahmed, I. A. 1957. Frequency of twinning in a herd of Egyptian cows and buffaloes. Emp. J. exp. Agric. 25: 24–28.Google Scholar
Turman, E. J., Laster, D. B., Renbarger, R. E. and Stephens, D. F. 1971. Multiple births in beef cows treated with equine gonadotropin (PMS) and chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). J. Anim. Sci. 32: 962–967.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vincent, C. K. and Mills, A. C. 1972. Gonadotropin levels for multiple births in beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 34: 77–81.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed