Why is it in the News?

Farmers in agricultural settings often identify freemartins by observing their physical and/or behavioral traits since these animals are unable to reproduce.

About Freemartins:

• A freemartin is an infertile female cattle with masculinized behavior and non-functioning ovaries.
• This condition is caused by the exchange of cells between female and male twins in utero.
• The male twin produces a hormone called anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), which suppresses the development of the female reproductive tract.
• As a result, the female twin is born with an underdeveloped reproductive system and is unable to reproduce.
• Freemartinism occurs in about 90% of female cattle twins that share a placenta with a male twin.
• This is because the placentas of cattle twins are often fused together, allowing cells to move between the two fetuses.
• The fusion of placentas usually occurs between 40 and 120 days of gestation.
• In addition to being infertile, freemartins may also exhibit some masculine characteristics, such as a deeper voice, coarser hair, and a more muscular build.
• This is because they have been exposed to AMH from their male twin.
• There is no treatment for freemartinism, as the animal is infertile and cannot produce offspring.
• However, freemartins can still be used for other purposes, such as meat production or draft work.