Twinning in cattle: Desirable or undesirable?

Abstract

Twin calving in dairy cow production is an avoidable reproductive event. Twinning may have not only positive but definitely negative effects on cow-calf production system. Because of several detrimental effects related with this incidence, cow producers are mostly against to twin birth in dairy herds. On the other hands, having twin calves may enhance production efficiency if an appropriate nutrition and management system can be operated in beef cattle herds. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to discuss and summarize the effect of twinning on reproduction and production system for dairy and beef industries. Finally, it will give an idea whether twin calving is desirable or undesirable characteristic.