No, if I see them standing first thing in the morning I get them served . Semen survive for 24 hrs ish so better to be too early than to late!
Using AI in suckler herds
- Thread starter Buwch
- Start date
- Location
- Bedfordshire
I do it myself. But had a heifer last night, that was standing next to a bull, so I served her, but didn't feel right so did it again this morning, and felt a bit better.
I'd like to use the ai man, for uncertain ones until I get more confident, but haven't got the time to wait at the farm for them.
M-J-G
Member
Timing of service and handling of semen needa to be spot on with sexed straws.
Conventional is pretty robust by comparison.
M-J-G
Member
She shouldn't really feel any different, particularly if she was showing heat yesterday.
If anything she should be more difficult the next day as she's going off, but even then it would be unlikely.
Sometimes when I AI for a customer they will ask if she's bulling, I usually just say she must be, otherwise you wouldn't have me here here.
- Location
- Bedfordshire
She must have only been coming on last night then?
M-J-G
Member
If they are near bulling at all that aren't normally much different to feel.
The time that we AI a cow/heifer shouldn't really feel right as it's an unnatural time to be mating them. If that makes sense?
- Location
- Bedfordshire
So do you leave them 12 hours after they've been bulling?
M-J-G
Member
Yeah when possible.
I did one once at about 36 hours (as I'd arrived back from a few days away) and she held. I don't know how, but it happened.
You should get 50% with cows and better with heifers off a sync - all about the management though.
why do you say that ?
If you're absolutely certain that she's only just started standing then leave her 12 hrs. If you're not sure, it's best to serve her when you see her. I used to AI for a living, always did them when I saw them, got good conception rates. If you look at the research as well there's bugger all difference.
I meant it can be a hassle in sucklers as they aren't coming through the parlour twice a day but when you're using AI sires that are proven, the calves are often a lot better (growth rates etc) unless you spend a bit of money on a good stockbull anyway.
no, it's down to ovulation time and semen capacitation time. She doesn't ovulate until after she's finished bulling and the sperm isn't fit to fertilise straight away.
15% is low. Sexed semen is much more fragile as it's had a battering during the sexing process. Technology is getting better though.
We have had a couple of heifers back in dec/jan we have left 12 hours after standing heat and @farmerclare couldn't do them
would heifers need doing a bit quicker because their cervix is smaller ?
also would the time of year affect it ? I have been told that they don't come bulling for so long in mid winter
Interestingly it wasn't all bad as one of them Clare just squirted it at the back of the cervix and the heifer has been PD'd in calf
- Location
- North Somerset.
AI not likely to go lame, run a temperature and be infertile for a spell, break out into neighbours heifers, eat much or try to kill you!
Yes, heifers will ovulate earlier than cows so therefor "go off" quicker. Nothing to do with their cervix though, just their cycle is a bit different.
you would be thinking that AI bulls are better than stockbulls
you would also be thinking that price = quality
neither of which I completely agree with