Blood cell chimerism is particularly significant when it involves heterosexual twins (i.e. male and female). The female fetus will thus have blood cells with XY chromosomes derived from the male in addition to her own blood cells with XX chromosomes. The Y-chromosomes suppress the development of the female genital system, resulting in a sterile heifer known as a freemartin. Freemartins develop in about 85 % of heterosexual twin pregnancies.
In the sheep and goat, the chorionic sacs of twins and triplets always fuse and connections between the allantoic sacs are often seen. Chorionic vascular anastomosis and consequent freemartinism also occur in heterosexual twins/triplets, but much less frequently than in the bovine.