Kevin Robertson, Hi All. Some time ago I mentioned a set of kudu twins being born here in south Texas and I wondered about the possibility of freemartinism if the twins were of the opposite sex. Kudu cows/heifers are currently worth about $ 40 000 here so the last thing one wants is to sell one with no breeding potential. My question was posted on the wildlifevet.org website and Henry Labuschagne replied suggesting that freemartinism is likely. I also mentioned that I have photos of this condition in buffalo and here they are. I saw this cow in Natal - she was the female from a set of opposite sex twins and has never bred. Kevin Robertson, [08 Sep 2023 at 13:40:01]: Hi Everyone. A kudu cow here in south Texas has just had twins. Still too early to determine their sex but I'm wondering if they are a male and female, will the latter be a freemartin? Does anyone have an answer to this? PS I have some photos of a Cape buffalo freemartin - contact me if you'd like to see them. Henry Labuschagne, [10 Sep 2023 at 02:17:56]: Hi Doctari. Hope you are well. Please post photo of buffalo freemartin. I have not seen a freemartin in kudu but being one of a male + female twin, I am sure chances are good that she/ it will indeed be one. You can measure her vagina depth with a probe ( you can use a test tube if no probe available ) and compare with another female calf of the same age. If she is a freemartin, her vagina depth will be much shorter than that of a normal calf. I would identify her and keep an eye on her development and scan her ovaries when she is older to see if they remain underdeveloped. Stay safe.
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Thanks for that Henry – not sure how to post photos here, any suggestions?