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Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 81 No. 4 989-993
© 1998 by American Dairy Science Association ®
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Risk Factors for Twinning in Dairy Cows

M. L. Kinsel 1, W. E. Marsh 2, P. L. Ruegg 3, and W. G. Etherington 4

1 Caine Veterinary Teaching Center, Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Idaho, Caldwell 83605
2 Department of Clinical and Population Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108
3 Technical Services, Protiva Division, Monsanto Company, East Lansing, MI 48823
4 Graduate Group in Epidemiology, University of California, Davis 95616

Records for 52,362 lactations over a 10-yr period from 260 dairy farms in North America that used a common commercial software for record keeping were evaluated for potential risk factors for twinning. Records were evaluated for the associations of reproductive disease, parity, production, drug therapy, and the occurrence of subsequent twins. The rate of twinning on these farms steadily increased over the observation period from 1.4% in 1983 to 2.4% in 1993. The rate of twinning also increased as parity of the cow increased, from 1.0% for cows in their first lactation to >4.1% for cows in their fifth or higher lactation. No association between twinning and season of year was detected. A multivariate logistical regression analysis found that the rate of twinning increased with increases in milk production, incidence of cystic ovarian disease, and the use of common pharmaceuticals, including GnRH, PGF2alpha, and antibiotics. Results of the regression model also indicated that the single most important reason for the recent increase in the rate of twinning was a concurrent increase in milk production.

Key Words: twinning • dairy • epidemiology

Submitted on June 25, 1997
Accepted on November 24, 1997




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