Beef AI conception rates

[Cowski]

We normally serve 3-4 weeks of dairy for our spring block then move over to beef AI with fertility plus British Blue from Genus. Calving ease, gestation length and calf value are all good but not really sure if we see much benefit from spending the extra on fert +. Our numbers last year show conception was slightly lower than the dairy bulls we used but as it was on repeat breeders I don’t want to read too much into that. Our Genus rep is offering some native breed straws which he says have a very good conception rate so I am considering using a proportion of these (sacrifice the calf value against a blue) some fert plus and some conventional blue straws. I would be very interested in others experience of different conception rates with different bulls.

 

[sidjon]

Similar results with genus fert+ , did use cogent fert+ right at the end (so poorest fertility ) and had better results, on our other herd with was AYC did use a lot of Murray grey to get poor fertility cows in calf , value of calf wasn't great but the most important thing was the cow got in calf

 

[Mr Jones]

We normally serve 3-4 weeks of dairy for our spring block then move over to beef AI with fertility plus British Blue from Genus. Calving ease, gestation length and calf value are all good but not really sure if we see much benefit from spending the extra on fert +. Our numbers last year show conception was slightly lower than the dairy bulls we used but as it was on repeat breeders I don’t want to read too much into that. Our Genus rep is offering some native breed straws which he says have a very good conception rate so I am considering using a proportion of these (sacrifice the calf value against a blue) some fert plus and some conventional blue straws. I would be very interested in others experience of different conception rates with different bulls.

Exact opposite for us last year, cattle were not holding well to sky high patrol, so on repeat service they all held to Genus Lim/Angus.

 

[Cowski]

Similar results with genus fert+ , did use cogent fert+ right at the end (so poorest fertility ) and had better results, on our other herd with was AYC did use a lot of Murray grey to get poor fertility cows in calf , value of calf wasn't great but the most important thing was the cow got in calf

Did you find the Murray grey held better?

 

[Cowski]

Exact opposite for us last year, cattle were not holding well to sky high patrol, so on repeat service they all held to Genus Lim/Angus.

Was Patrol the only dairy bull you used? Therefore more that Patrol was poor rather than Fert + being ‘good’?

 

[Mr Jones]

Was Patrol the only dairy bull you used? Therefore more that Patrol was poor rather than Fert + being ‘good’?

Yes, once I noticed Patrol wasn't performing, those that did repeat and went to dairy, all held to first service to tonto, or Norwegian Red Reitan.

 

[sidjon]

Did you find the Murray grey held better?

Yes? it was noticeable by the amount of MG calves were born off that farm.

 

[AGN76]

We normally serve 3-4 weeks of dairy for our spring block then move over to beef AI with fertility plus British Blue from Genus. Calving ease, gestation length and calf value are all good but not really sure if we see much benefit from spending the extra on fert +. Our numbers last year show conception was slightly lower than the dairy bulls we used but as it was on repeat breeders I don’t want to read too much into that. Our Genus rep is offering some native breed straws which he says have a very good conception rate so I am considering using a proportion of these (sacrifice the calf value against a blue) some fert plus and some conventional blue straws. I would be very interested in others experience of different conception rates with different bulls.

Try Gaberal and fert plus native

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Used Genus fert+ for years, so don't have any comparative figures but I think the blurb is 3-4% better conception.

Also use a handfull of the native straws to produce teaser bulls and yes, calf value will suffer.

Now I have moved to selling milk calves as opposed to weaned calves I'm finding that the fert+ calves can be a bit variable.
So this year I have switched to 60% single sire and 40% fert+.
The single sire straws are more expensive.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Used Genus fert+ for years, so don't have any comparative figures but I think the blurb is 3-4% better conception.

Also use a handfull of the native straws to produce teaser bulls and yes, calf value will suffer.

Now I have moved to selling milk calves as opposed to weaned calves I'm finding that the fert+ calves can be a bit variable.
So this year I have switched to 60% single sire and 40% fert+.
The single sire straws are more expensive.

Why are you using natives for teasers?

I'm going to give them a go but I'm not sure whether to keep a few blues or Herefords so I have something saleable at the end or just use a jersey that will happily try to hump 20 cows by lunch and still have the energy to chase you across a field before tea.

What age do you snip?

 

[som farmer]

Why are you using natives for teasers?

I'm going to give them a go but I'm not sure whether to keep a few blues or Herefords so I have something saleable at the end or just use a jersey that will happily try to hump 20 cows by lunch and still have the energy to chase you across a field before tea.

What age do you snip?

thinking of using teasers for our autumn block, kept a couple of randy little xbreds, wondering how people get n with them, also do people keep them for more than a year? our Hereford clear up bulls all run together, those 2 b's don't want to know about that. really want to know is it worth the hassle.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Why are you using natives for teasers?

I'm going to give them a go but I'm not sure whether to keep a few blues or Herefords so I have something saleable at the end or just use a jersey that will happily try to hump 20 cows by lunch and still have the energy to chase you across a field before tea.

What age do you snip?

Size, I'm serving Holsteins on concrete remember.
I just need them marking.

The Angus bulls come in over 500kg on the hook by the time I'm finished with them. Lord knows how big a blue will get.

8 months ish of age for the op.
Done at least a month before you use them.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

thinking of using teasers for our autumn block, kept a couple of randy little xbreds, wondering how people get n with them, also do people keep them for more than a year? our Hereford clear up bulls all run together, those 2 b's don't want to know about that. really want to know is it worth the hassle.

They cover 2 seasons if they last that long. Feet and injury are the risks.
Works for me as, apart from one period, submission rate has consistently been in the 90's with less effort. Especially so in the maiden hfr group.

No idea about xbreds though sorry.