Comparison of Pre- and Postpartum Performance of Holstein Dairy Cows Having either a Single or Twin Pregnancy

Abstract

Cows calving with twins are often associated with a myriad of health problems and subsequent poor productive and reproductive performance. Financial losses associated with a twin pregnancy stem from lost replacements, disease costs, reproductive inefficiency, and increased culling. With the twinning rate increasing in many dairy herds, any practice reducing disease prevalence, reproductive problems, or both in cows with twins will help to minimize financial losses during the subsequent lactation. However, minimal comparative data are available to address metabolic or nutritional factors, which may be responsible for the myriad of health problems associated with a twin pregnancy. Data from a previous study were used to determine if animal performance measures over the transition period were different between single- and twin-pregnancy cows.