Heifer AI problems - suggestions please!

Princess Pooper · Nov 29, 2017

Prince Pooper does the AI here and although he only does about 120 services a year across say 3 months, he has been doing it for decades and usually has a good strike rate. This year, as usual he started 1 November in our bulling heifers and eligible cows. Cows seem to have been going well - too early to gauge many repeats (few so far), but most felt OK at the time. The 22 bulling heifers a different matter. Again, not usually a problem for him although often more difficult than cows. All heifers are well grown and are being inseminated at our usual age, at 14 -15 months. Most had already been seen bulling at grass and all but 2 seen on heat in Oct since yarding. All served to natural heat (good strong heats) since 1 November but probably 75% of them he has had a problem getting through the cervix - he says it feels as though the cervix is blocked, he can get it in the entrance but not into the uterus. So we are expecting a lot of repeats. He is very despondent as even on the first repeats he is having the same problem. The only thing that has change this year is the handling system. I used to AI 25 years ago but not recently.

Other than possibly not getting exactly on the right angle due to the changed handling system so getting caught on a fold of skin in the canal of the cervix, has anyone else any other possibilities? The race is wider so even with a tyre in to push the heifer to one side they are not as far over relative to his stance. I repeat he is experienced AI including heifers and it seems to be the same problem almost every time.

Clay52 · Nov 30, 2017

After doing cows for a bit maiden heifers can be a bit of an issue at times. Everything is closer and smaller you need to change your technique a bit. I would say he is just a bit out of practice with the heifers and it will click then it will go easy.

Princess Pooper · Nov 30, 2017

Clay52 said:
After doing cows for a bit maiden heifers can be a bit of an issue at times. Everything is closer and smaller you need to change your technique a bit. I would say he is just a bit out of practice with the heifers and it will click then it will go easy.

No he started heifers first as they came bulling first and the difficult ones first round are difficult second time round. It's not closer or smaller it's getting it all the way through the cervix and judging whether to force it through the resistance or whether he is damaging them. It is too late to salvage this year, the bull will be going in early and we just hope we can get enough of the cows in calf in time to sexed. I was wondering whether it was a minerals /developmental issue, we have done nothing different on feed but forage and silage may be different. Any comments @bovine?

jimmer · Nov 30, 2017

Had same problem two years ago in heifers , really frustrating and I feel for Prince , unfortunately too many had multiple services and too many went as culls , couldn't get to the bottom of why , but the heifers the next year were back to normal
Sorry to be negative , just keep plugging away
We didn't put a bull in so I hope yours take to natural service

Beef farmer · Nov 30, 2017

Stick the bull in quick. Getting them in calf is more important than breeding them to a top ai bull.

Woolgatherer · Nov 30, 2017

Is there any difference in feeding? Or quality of feeding ie minerals etc? Thinking is it possibly something similar to ringwomb?

Holsteinfriesian90 · Nov 30, 2017

How many hours after standing are you doing them? Ai a few of our heifers last year and I'm fairy new to it but I was doing them only a couple of hours after standing and found them not to bad. I guess that's not much good if using sexed.

Rossymons · Nov 30, 2017

Beef farmer said:
Stick the bull in quick. Getting them in calf is more important than breeding them to a top ai bull.

This.

William Mellor · Nov 30, 2017

Holsteinfriesian90 said:
How many hours after standing are you doing them? Ai a few of our heifers last year and I'm fairy new to it but I was doing them only a couple of hours after standing and found them not to bad. I guess that's not much good if using sexed.

I do my heifers within 12 hours of coming into bulling to sexed and always had a good conception rate.
@Princess Pooper i would be making a note of those that prince pooper is having issues with and if there’s a lot I’d be tempted on getting the ai man out to serve some and ask if he has problems serving them

vantage · Nov 30, 2017

It may be genetic.A few years ago we had trouble with some heifers,cervix with lots of flaps/corrugations.They were hard to ai,but with patience and plenty of manipulation it is possible.If all else fails get the bull in to sweep.

buffalo_soldier · Nov 30, 2017

Had a bit of an issue similar to this last year and ended up with too many late hfrs.
Mineral supplement turned out to be the most likely cause.

Change of mineral and the introduction of a sweeper bull will hopefully make a positive response this year.

I would also put the bull in now and save the semen till next year if need be.

Princess Pooper · Nov 30, 2017

Beef farmer said:
Stick the bull in quick. Getting them in calf is more important than breeding them to a top ai bull.

I agree, he is probably going in today, the only problem being that we are a closed herd and it's a beef bull! Having said that, we went for about 10 years staying closed using sexed semen on cows only so we should be ok, just won't get such a tight heifer calf block to rear, which is a pity as we got them in 6 weeks this year.

Sylution · Nov 30, 2017

What I find when serving heifers in a race with a scisor yoke at the front is that heifers are less stressed if I put a chain behind them and not yoke their heads. Stressed heifers can be hard to serve. Just my observations of 10 years DIY AI.
Also I remember when having a technician to serve before DIY they never really took more than 1minute to serve. Many heifers can take up to 5 minutes. Gentle manipulation and different angles and then the good feeling of hitting the spot. (Parden the pun) . Patience.
Much happier with DIY conception.

Scholsey · Nov 30, 2017

Try to serve as soon as you see them standing and ai even if the bull has served them, atleast you have a chance of a replacement heifer. Had a set of twins the other day, 1 was a holstien heifer from sexed semen and the other was a hereford bull!

Clay52 · Nov 30, 2017

Princess Pooper said:
No he started heifers first as they came bulling first and the difficult ones first round are difficult second time round. It's not closer or smaller it's getting it all the way through the cervix and judging whether to force it through the resistance or whether he is damaging them. It is too late to salvage this year, the bull will be going in early and we just hope we can get enough of the cows in calf in time to sexed. I was wondering whether it was a minerals /developmental issue, we have done nothing different on feed but forage and silage may be different. Any comments @bovine?

Might need an AI refresher corse.

cowsmart · Nov 30, 2017

I find heifers quite difficult, like threading a straw through another straw..some are easy but majority are tough....I am usually asked to serve heifers after AI man has served them once or twice and bull been running with them for 6 weeks...any still bulling after fall on my shoulders.....

Manney · Nov 30, 2017

I also vote to stick the bull in. I would then also look to start pd'ing as soon as possible to see if the bull has got them in calf.

Henarar · Nov 30, 2017

Princess Pooper said:
Prince Pooper does the AI here and although he only does about 120 services a year across say 3 months, he has been doing it for decades and usually has a good strike rate. This year, as usual he started 1 November in our bulling heifers and eligible cows. Cows seem to have been going well - too early to gauge many repeats (few so far), but most felt OK at the time. The 22 bulling heifers a different matter. Again, not usually a problem for him although often more difficult than cows. All heifers are well grown and are being inseminated at our usual age, at 14 -15 months. Most had already been seen bulling at grass and all but 2 seen on heat in Oct since yarding. All served to natural heat (good strong heats) since 1 November but probably 75% of them he has had a problem getting through the cervix - he says it feels as though the cervix is blocked, he can get it in the entrance but not into the uterus. So we are expecting a lot of repeats. He is very despondent as even on the first repeats he is having the same problem. The only thing that has change this year is the handling system. I used to AI 25 years ago but not recently.

Other than possibly not getting exactly on the right angle due to the changed handling system so getting caught on a fold of skin in the canal of the cervix, has anyone else any other possibilities? The race is wider so even with a tyre in to push the heifer to one side they are not as far over relative to his stance. I repeat he is experienced AI including heifers and it seems to be the same problem almost every time.

@Philip Bealing

westwards · Nov 30, 2017

I was told by the local Genus guy to do them within 2 hours of them being seen standing, there is plenty mucus to get the gun through, and as you draw the gun back keep a little and let it go just inside the cervix.

Davy · Nov 30, 2017

It is definitely easier to serve heifers closer to standing heat than leave them, but when serving them to sexed, will it affect conception much? I've no issue with cows as ive been doing it a few years now. Usually use a bull for heifers but I've started AI'ing a batch this week and its a lot harder. I'm getting some, but others are like the OP. Getting through the last bit of the cervix is difficult, but I was putting that down to inexperience on my part. Maybe I should be serving them as I see them standing.

Heifer AI problems - suggestions please!

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