Freemartin

Quick Summary

A freemartin is a female that is born as a twin with a male and is sterile as a result of exposure to masculinizing hormones produced by the male in utero.
Turnaround Time
At least 15 business days; may be delayed beyond 15 business days if sample requires additional testing, or a new sample is requested.
Price

$55 one test per animal

Order Test

Sample CollectionPurple top tube with blood

The freemartin test requires a blood sample. 

VGL requires 3 mL of whole blood in an EDTA purple top tube for testing 

   -  Label the tube with the animal's name exactly as it appears on the order

   -  Place the tube in a plastic bag and pack the blood well enough to withstand the rigors of shipping - we cannot test a broken sample

   -  Please include an ice pack to keep the sample cool while in transit

   -  We highly recommend sending the sample overnight through FedEx or UPS at the beginning of the week as we do not have staff on the weekend to process samples

 

For samples mailed through FedEx/UPS/DHL etc:

Veterinary Genetics Laboratory

University of California Davis

Old Davis Road

Davis, CA 95616

Additional Details

A freemartin is defined as a female that is born as a twin with a male and is sterile as a result of exposure to masculinizing hormones produced by the male. A connection between the two fetal circulatory systems develops early in gestation (anastomosis) and leads to the exchange of blood between the fetuses. Exposure to male hormones leads to underdevelopment of the female's reproductive tract. Over ninety percent of females born co-twin to male are infertile.

Type of Sample
Blood - 3 mL of whole blood in an EDTA purple top, ship overnight, avoid shipping over weekends and holidays.

Species

Cattle

Breed

Afrikaner American Lineback American Milking Devon Angus Angus, Lowline Angus, Midline Ankole-Watusi Aubrac Ayrshire Ayrshire Cross Balancer Beefmaster Belgian Blue Belted Galloway Bison Black Hereford Black Maximizer Blonde d'Aquitaine Brahman Brangus Braunvieh British White Brown Swiss Brown Swiss Cross BueLingo Canadienne Canadienne Cross Charolais Charolais Cross Chianina Chianina Cross Corriente Crossbred Dahomey Dexter Dexter Cross Dutch Belted Cattle Dutch Belted Cross Fleckvieh Galloway Gascon Gelbvieh Gir Guernsey Guernsey Cross Hereford Highland Holstein Holstein Cross Jersey Jersey Cross Kerry Kerry Cross Limousin Longhorn Maine-Anjou Marchigiana Milking Devon Cross Milking Shorthorn Milking Shorthorn Cross Mini Hereford Mini-Mid Jerseys Miniature Highland Miniature Highland/ White Park Cross Miniature Jersey Miniature Zebu Montbeliarde Murray Grey Normande Norwegian Red Norwegian Red Cross Piedmontese Pinzgauer Poll Highland Polled Hereford Randall Lineback Red & White Red Angus Red Poll Romagnola Romagnola Cross Salers Saltillo Scottish Highland Shorthorn Simbrah Simmental Suiz Bu Wagyu White Park
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References

Padula, A.M. (2005). The freemartin syndrome: an update. Animal Reproduction Science, 87, 93-109. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2004.09.008

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