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Post by kansasdexters on Jul 11, 2013 21:04:35 GMT -5
littlecowfl, There is a Dexter AI bull that has notched ears, carries dun, and is heterozygous polled. It's Sha Black Bullet, ADCA Reg. No: 13794. The genotype is on file at Texas A&M, so you could ask for your heifer's genotype to be compared to that of this bull. Anytime a registered Dexter cow is AI-serviced, there is an ADCA AI service record form that is filled out and signed and dated by both the cow owner and the AI tech. This should be done at the time of service, and it is needed when the calf's registration application is submitted: www.dextercattle.org/pdf/2011AIform.pdfPatti
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Post by littlecowfl on Jul 12, 2013 6:45:11 GMT -5
Thanks Patti. The tech had never done a Dexter before so I doubt he knew about the form. Now I know in case I decide to do it again.
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Post by marion on Jul 12, 2013 11:06:18 GMT -5
What a bummer that she isn't from the sire you chose. I would tend to think that it is another Dexter bull.. Perhaps it is the one Patti suggested, that carries dun. Does the heifer's dam carry red? It would be nice if you at least did have a registerable heifer, even if not from your chosen mating. Your straw should still be in the tech's tank. Has it "gone missing"?? Our tech when getting his equipment ready, always says something like "so..we're going with (bull's name) today, are we?" I used to think it was just chat, but then I realized he was confirming that he had the right information before inseminating the cow..marion
edited to ad: I guess the red could have come from Black Bullet too, as his sire has a red offspring and Platinum who carried red is in the pedigree.
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Post by littlecowfl on Jul 12, 2013 11:16:18 GMT -5
I don't think she's full Dexter. Her legs are so thick compared to my other cows and heifers. Her head is also kind of wonky. Oh, and the tech didn't have any other Dexter bull semen at all. We were the first Dexter he had handled. It would have been neat if I could just have found out it was a different sire and still Dexter, but that is out of the realm of possibilities.
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Post by marion on Jul 12, 2013 11:29:30 GMT -5
I agree she does look a little odd, but part of it could be the bad hairdo and crop ears. It's just there is a large variability in body type and size, crop ears are found in some Dexters and what are the chances of a 'grade' bull being collected for AI that also carries dun? If the tech didnt have any other Dexter, perhaps he has an inventory of what is in his tank and the dates ordered from the storage facility. Perhaps it was supposed to be your order, but they sent the wrong bull. I would think that one of the larger beef breeds would not collect a crop-eared bull..marion
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Post by littlecowfl on Jul 12, 2013 11:53:32 GMT -5
No, we checked with the source and even compared to all their bulls with no luck. THEY had great records. Unfortunately, the tech didn't. I keep hitting the same dead end because of a sloppy tech (he didn't seem that way when he came out). Word to the wise.
AI school is only a three day class...hmmm...maybe I just need to get certified myself to make sure this sort of thing doesn't happen again. With both hoof trimmers and AI techs around here, it is really hard to get someone to come out for only a few cows. I have played with the idea of AI tech school before, simply to help out other small holders around here.
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Post by littlecowfl on Jul 12, 2013 11:55:09 GMT -5
Hehehe! Yeah, I think the tech knows I'm pretty ticked at him. What if I were to ask for the remaining straws because I got certified, LOL! Can you see that conversation?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2013 16:02:59 GMT -5
Yes I can see that littlecowf.
I think you should ask for your straws. It might take a little practice but at least if you muck it up, then you can at least live and learn from that.
But it's much worse when you have a qualified expert stuff up on a wasted 9 mths, money, and now the resulting cross.
I think some compensation is in order.
What if you had several girls done?
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Post by littlecowfl on Jul 12, 2013 16:12:59 GMT -5
Donlin, you're right, but I will not pursue such a thing from the AI tech. He is having enough issues right now. No one else messed up.
Sometimes, you just have to learn from a bad experience. I have, and it will help me advise those that buy straws from me (I'll be marketing my own AI bull soon).
Lessons learned (for those here looking at using AI bulls):
1). Make sure you have the proper forms (your tech should have them, too.).
2). Verify each straw and keep the empty straws once your cow is serviced.
3). Check on your AI tech's reputation. Don't use the only guy that comes out to your place. Hauling your cow to a facility may be worthwhile if you live far away from the techs.
4). Make sure your tech keeps accurate records of which bulls he has in his tank and which straws were used on which days.
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Post by littlecowfl on Jul 12, 2013 16:13:57 GMT -5
Patti, did I miss any? It was nice talking to you on the phone. Thank you.
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Post by cddexter on Jul 12, 2013 16:56:41 GMT -5
Alicia, you mention you guessed limo, but it might have been red poll. Before you are completely on the outs with the tech, would you ask him if he had any RP in his tank? It's not a common breed so I'd wonder... thanks, c.
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Post by carragheendexters on Jul 12, 2013 18:28:47 GMT -5
Hi Littlecowfl, Both my husband and I do our own AI'ing. We did a training course some 10 yrs ago, and have been doing our own ever since. I think that a lot of Dexter breeders over here do, or at least the people I know do. Some are expert at it, have some great success rates. Not every AI will take, depends on a lot of factors. It means you can do your cows when you want them done, not fit in with someone else's schedule, and this increases your success rate. We always check the name on the straw before it comes out of the tank, before insemination, and then after removal from the gun. No mistakes that way. It is a little expensive to get set up, buying your tank and kit, and the maintaining of it. You probably don't get your money back, unless you do an awful lot of AI"ing, but it's the convenience of it. Good luck in your new field. regards Louise
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Post by carragheendexters on Jul 12, 2013 18:37:37 GMT -5
Hi Carol, I jumped at your Meades clue. I looked up all cattle bred by them and there is a registered "dun" grade 2 (3/4 bred) cow graded up from a redpoll/jersey cross, by Bookhams Robert and the mother is also by Bookhams Robert, (father /daughter mating). Now whether Bookhams Robert carries dun or not, I don't know. The only other dun progeny he has are grade 1's from Jersey's. There is also a dun grade 2 bred up from a Murray Grey. Now if Bookhams Robert doesn't carry dun, where did it come from, the Red Poll? but that would only account for one gene. If Bookhams Robert did carry dun, both genes could have come from him. So that doesn't really give much information. Also did people misinterpret the colour of their cows, "a funny colour, let's call it dun". regards louise
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Post by cddexter on Jul 17, 2013 8:53:06 GMT -5
Hi Louise. I checked with Nancy, and she doesn't remember any duns at Alec's. However, she might not have noticed it or it could have been sold on. Maybe check direct with Alec? Alec had been a dairy farmer for years before getting into Dexters. He was a real boost to the breed, but wasn't always fully informed. He and I had several go-rounds about 'shortlegs' and 'dwarfs'. By his definition, they were different; by mine, they were the same. Maybe he had his own definitions about colour, too.
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Post by littlecowfl on Jul 17, 2013 19:16:54 GMT -5
Thanks for the thoughts, guys! I called the tech and arranged to have him drop off the straws at the same AI facility where my own bull's straws are stored (AI facility's idea after I told them of my woes). Depending on how many I have left, I might sacrifice one and and pull more tail hairs from the heifer for a second round of testing at UC Davis.
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