AI in sucklers

[Woolless]

For that many cows I would expect it to be higher than that. How many years did you expect him to last and what cull value did you put?

I did it two ways, £2500 bull lasting five years sold cull at £800. Also £1500 (rare breed bull) sold at £800 after two years (which assumes daughters retained). Also had £460/year against him for fodder, bedding, vet and a nibble of cake.

 

[Jonny B88]

This will be out third year Ai’ing. We tried a cidr programme on cows and heifers with poor results, so last year bred to observed heats on heifers only. Worked much better. We used a vasectomised bull and the moocall heat detection system. Works pretty well. We have been trying to increase numbers significantly past couple of years so we bred all our heifers last year which meant a few were going to be unsuitable. This year we have many more heifers to choose from so will hand pick the best. Will also Ai about 10-12 cows which were the highest performing last year. We have 12 acres around a yard which will be split into 10 paddocks and we will graze the 35 odd cattle on these and just set up electric fences to guide them in, following a bucket of meal. Worked well last year hope better this year.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Has anyone used hamlet on heifers? Have some lovely blue x heifers to bull next month
@shearerlad ?

 

[AGN76]

Has anyone used hamlet on heifers? Have some lovely blue x heifers to bull next month
@shearerlad ?

I haven't and wouldn't. But I think @shearerlad may have bigger balls than I!

 

[shearerlad]

Has anyone used hamlet on heifers? Have some lovely blue x heifers to bull next month
@shearerlad ?

Not used him on heifers, but on 2nd calvers with no issues. I’ve got a (well guarded) stash of Conan for heifers

I haven't and wouldn't. But I think @shearerlad may have bigger balls than I!

Getting a bit personal there

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Not used him on heifers, but on 2nd calvers with no issues. I’ve got a (well guarded) stash of Conan for heifers




Getting a bit personal there

Looking in the genus catalogue there’s no difference between Conan and hamlet for calving ease....would you not advise him for heifers?

 

[shearerlad]

Looking in the genus catalogue there’s no difference between Conan and hamlet for calving ease....would you not advise him for heifers?

Never needed to ai heifers in the past. We had an excellent “heifers” bull but he was culled last year. Was keeping the Conan straws specially for heifers in the future as I know there is no more available

Edit. If your heifers have blue blood in them or you know they could be a carrier of the nt gene I wouldn’t use hamlet as that combination can throw big muscly calves

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Never needed to ai heifers in the past. We had an excellent “heifers” bull but he was culled last year. Was keeping the Conan straws specially for heifers in the future as I know there is no more available

Edit. If your heifers have blue blood in them or you know they could be a carrier of the nt gene I wouldn’t use hamlet as that combination can throw big muscly calves

I have easy calving bulls, just fancied ai’ng these heifers to a different bull to hopefully get heifers out of them...might try and get some tonka

 

[shearerlad]

I have easy calving bulls, just fancied ai’ng these heifers to a different bull to hopefully get heifers out of them...might try and get some tonka

Emslies Galileo might be ok. 3 points behind hamlet in the catalogue for calving. Also his father was top of the beef value league for a number of years.

 

[Bopeep1981]

We tried AI initially, but soon bought a bull. That is how well we got on with it . We run the bull with the cows all the time, and he is no bother whatsoever. We do AI some cows, and then they run with the bull, just in case.

One of my reservations with AI is that, unless I have actually seen the animal, I am relying on someone else's judgement of a bull. Do I need to don a tin hat for that comment?!

 

[shearerlad]

No tin hat needed @Bopeep1981
I do a bit of ai at the start of the bulling period then run 2 bulls over 75 cows.
I think there is room to use both as long as cows are in calf.

Tbh it’s as much a bit of a hobby/interest of following bulls/breeding lines and matching bulls that I have in the tank to individual cows.

 

[Woolless]

We tried AI initially, but soon bought a bull. That is how well we got on with it . We run the bull with the cows all the time, and he is no bother whatsoever. We do AI some cows, and then they run with the bull, just in case.

One of my reservations with AI is that, unless I have actually seen the animal, I am relying on someone else's judgement of a bull. Do I need to don a tin hat for that comment?!

That's a fair point but I suppose you have photos, EBVs plus in many cases the experience of others regards calving issues and calf quality to make an informed decision on.

 

[M-J-G]

We tried AI initially, but soon bought a bull. That is how well we got on with it . We run the bull with the cows all the time, and he is no bother whatsoever. We do AI some cows, and then they run with the bull, just in case.

One of my reservations with AI is that, unless I have actually seen the animal, I am relying on someone else's judgement of a bull. Do I need to don a tin hat for that comment?!

No tin hat needed.

Some people believe AI bulls are something superior, but I have stood at sales and watched what they buy and have not been impressed on many occasions.

 

[shearerlad]

No tin hat needed.

Some people believe AI bulls are something superior, but I have stood at sales and watched what they buy and have not been impressed on many occasions.

I’m more interested in bulls bought by private buyers (ie not ai companies). Bulls that I like, that have the pedigree that I like and the figures that I like but are out of my budget

 

[M-J-G]

That's a fair point but I suppose you have photos, EBVs plus in many cases the experience of others regards calving issues and calf quality to make an informed decision on.

Photos of a dressed bull taken by someone like Catherine MacGregor or Alfie Shaw.
Better than nothing, but some of the bulls that the AI companies buy are rubbish.

 

[M-J-G]

I’m more interested in bulls bought by private buyers (ie not ai companies). Bulls that I like, that have the pedigree that I like and the figures that I like but are out of my budget

Me too

 

[Woolless]

Photos of a dressed bull taken by someone like Catherine MacGregor or Alfie Shaw.
Better than nothing, but some of the bulls that the AI companies buy are rubbish.

Why would they buy rubbish? Just buying on figures?

 

[M-J-G]

Why would they buy rubbish? Just buying on figures?

They want good figures on a limited budget, so there has to be a compromise somewhere.

 

[Bopeep1981]

Phew!

 

[CharcoalWally]

One of my reservations with AI is that, unless I have actually seen the animal, I am relying on someone else's judgement of a bull. Do I need to don a tin hat for that comment?!

And again, nope.

Relying on someone else to make your decisions may well be a risky business looking at some AI bulls. I've used some AI bulls over the years that left woeful calves - worse than many fairly ordinary stock bulls would have left.

Always better to choose your own bull.