AI frustration

[oldtruck]

ok, so we have been watching the heifers and trying to catch them at the best time of heat for AI. We used the heat patch on the catch the heat and then the tech, did his thing, no success 2 times . is this a common oaccurance with heifers? I am no going to bring in a bull to do the job, but I really want to use the AI process , it just gives me more options for the bull. any help or opinions is appreciated

[emgiger]

There are several factors in play here…..the viability (quality) of the semen in the straws, the experience of the AI technician and timing the AI correctly. A problem with any one of these issues could cause your success rate to plummet. We use synchronized AI, which has been quite successful for us. If indeed you are AI'ing heifers (not cows), you need a very experienced AI tech. Heifers (especially Dexter heifers) are much smaller than what most AI techs are used to, so they really need to know what they are doing. If you feel you are timing things correctly and you have a good AI technician, I would consider having the straws you are using tested.

Eileen

[zephyrhillsusan]

We had the following AI experiences with the same AI clinic:

Mature cow - boarded at the clinic until ultrasound confirmed pregnancy - success
Heifer - on farm - did not take
Same mature cow - on farm - did not take
Same mature cow - boarded at the clinic until ultrasound confirmed pregnancy - success

So you can see we had 100 % success rate at the clinic and 0% success rate on-farm. Each time we used synchronizing. Except for the first time it was the same tech, and this is a nationally-recognized clinic. On the farm we did not have a pasture where we could easily observe the animals so it was very hard to see their behavior and pinpoint standing heat, plus we were inexperienced. The heifer was done during a very hot summer--because it took months for the tech to finally return my calls. The tech didn't really expect it to work, but we went ahead because she was about 20 months old by that time. Once we learned it didn't take, we promptly sent her off to a bull, and he got the job done.

All along we had a hard time getting the clinic to answer our calls when we would call & say we had a cow to breed; sometimes it would take weeks or even a couple of months to get them to start the synchronization process. We finally realized they did not want to be bothered with one or two cows. The last time, they called us to come pick up the cow earlier than we had agreed to because they had more animals coming in and needed the space. We did insist that they keep her long enough to ultrasound her before we got her, but that was when we decided to buy a bull. Yes, it takes managing, but at least we're in charge of the process and not waiting on someone who won't return phone calls--and who really doesn't want our business because two or three cows isn't enough to bother with. I haven't heard a complaint yet from the bull!

I'm sorry for your frustration, and I really sympathize.

[lakeportfarms]

Heifers are difficult as Eileen says. If I understand correctly you're trying with both of your Dexter heifers that you have registered? Minnie is only 13 months old, and she was weaned very early (2 months) by the guy you bought her from. I don't know how large she is now but just based on age alone I'd wait at least 6 or 7 more months before you try to breed her. I would guess she hasn't grown all that much being weaned so early. If she is one that you are trying to breed you should be happy it didn't take or it could have been a calving with a lot of complications, especially if you didn't use a low birth weight bull.

Edited to add:  I forgot to mention that if you've made two attempts already, Minnie was not even a year old at the first attempt.  WAY too early if you were trying to breed her!!!

[marion]

I breed mine at 14 to 16 months. They are non-chondro and well grown by that age. I have never used patches, but rely on observation. If you are able to be around them a lot, you will see them sniffing other cows and being sniffed a day or so before they start any other activity. The best indicator for timing is to see a full standing heat. I note when I first see 'standing' and then check quite late to see if they are still 'standing'. The call to the tech is made sometime during that afternoon or early evening and the tech arrives (depending on his/her number of calls that day) early morning to early afternoon. We are very lucky here with the service offered by EastGen and the tech's are just the best :-) Heifers present no special problems and I have read that in fact heifers conceive by AI more easily than older cows.

[burntforkdexters]

Timing is everything. I'm no expert but the I think the AI tech I use is. He is adamant. he likes to AI 12 hours after standing heat. The patches you are using tell you when other cows are mounting her but not when the cow stands while getting mounted. Last year he was 4 for 4 with my cows.

[karenp]

Lower Delaware

I feel your pain, multiple AI attempts are frustrating and expensive.

[oldtruck]

hans, we are not trying to breed Minnie she is way to small she is waiting for another year, that being said. we have decided to bring in a bull and do the job for us, maybe when they have their first calf I or we will have added success next year. thank you for your responses.

oldtruck

[cddexter]

uhh, oldtruck, bulls don't care how old a heifer is, he'll have every intention of breeding er if he can. Sounds like some management plans need to be in place before you undertake anything further? c.

[lakeportfarms]

Paul, good to know. We had acquired a number of Ernie's cows earlier, but Minnie's mother (Lady II) who had just been sold to the guy in Clare just before we got there. We were disappointed because Lady II was red out of heritage Dexter lines. Lady II popped up for sale a few months later and we immediately went and bought her, but he was keeping her calf, who was only a couple of months old. As we drove away Sheril and I were not happy that she was weaned so early. By the time we got back he called us and offered her for sale to us but we couldn't agree on price and terms. I'm happy to hear she made it through that experience. Did you get any $10,000 Alpaca's from him?

As Carol said, bulls don't discriminate, so make certain she is in a very secure place if you bring a bull to breed your others. They WILL go over fences that are not secure.

[oldtruck]

hans, she is pretty small for her age. she has a great temperament tho, and is fun to be around since she has came to our place. I wish we could breed her this year but I think it will be better this way, plus I want to AI her to a different bull that we have semen from.  he did try and sell me a couple of his alpacas, I just do not see the allure of them and they were quite pricy (I thought). we will have her secured up by the barn , we have small paddock we can keep her in alone with our jersey cow, they seem to be pals, the fence is 5 strands of 5/16 braided guy wire with 2 of them being hot, he will not be coming trough that .