Beef semen conception rates on dairy

[organicguy]

We had a problem with conception rates from 3 lots of AA semen from 2 AI companies during winter service. Another AA used at same time was fine, as were 4 straws of fertility plus used on last day of service which returned 75% in calf.
Messed up our NIC figures in a big way. Best fertility of year was sexed semen!
Anyone else had problems, I will share bulls and companies by PM until I find enough others with the same problem!

 

[Farmer Fin]

We had a problem with conception rates from 3 lots of AA semen from 2 AI companies during winter service. Another AA used at same time was fine, as were 4 straws of fertility plus used on last day of service which returned 75% in calf.
Messed up our NIC figures in a big way. Best fertility of year was sexed semen!
Anyone else had problems, I will share bulls and companies by PM until I find enough others with the same problem!

Out of interest how many straws per lot did you use? Have you got any straws left for testing?

 

[organicguy]

Out of interest how many straws per lot did you use? Have you got any straws left for testing?

40 or 50 straws of each. Tested one bull which we had used early and had concerns. Vet said was ok but not brilliant. 9% overall. Other bulls were used at end and damage was done. We ran out of semen because the conception was so poor.
We moved from 2 bulls to 4 because we had an issue with a different bull in the past. I'm not convinced it is the bulls so much as semen handling in the chain.

 

[lazy farmer]

We had issues. Last summer with no cows getting in calf for the last two weeks of service. The bull in question was AA westellen Diego. I have no proof and I am not blaming anybody I didn’t even realise until calving this yr! It is a coincidence though.

 

[Farmer Fin]

40 or 50 straws of each. Tested one bull which we had used early and had concerns. Vet said was ok but not brilliant. 9% overall. Other bulls were used at end and damage was done. We ran out of semen because the conception was so poor.
We moved from 2 bulls to 4 because we had an issue with a different bull in the past. I'm not convinced it is the bulls so much as semen handling in the chain.

Just checking the number. Some people get hung up with small numbers but 50 odd is enough to be significant.
As you said it will be handling of the batch somewhere and semen companies are normally unwilling to take responsibility. Checking AI straws to fresh semen is different so just make sure your vet know that. If they judge then off fresh standards they will think all frozen stuff is crap.

 

[vantage]

Yes, I’ve had dodgy beef conception with a BB bull. I would have expected better conception rates initially as he was used on non replacement cows, usually the lower stressed cows. I’m changing to Fertility plus beef now as there are 3 bulls in a straw.

 

[Sylution]

Had poor conception with Lim and BB bull for the last month of serving for autumn 2020. Only 5 in calf from 30 straws. The 1st six weeks went well with sexed and hereford. Used all the straws, so cant test. However 3 came bulling on last day of service, had sexed as thats all I had in the flask. And 3 held. Using Welsh Black for AI in the last 3 weeks of after christmas calving block. ?

 

[Beef farmer]

Had poor conception with Lim and BB bull for the last month of serving for autumn 2020. Only 5 in calf from 30 straws. The 1st six weeks went well with sexed and hereford. Used all the straws, so cant test. However 3 came bulling on last day of service, had sexed as thats all I had in the flask. And 3 held. Using Welsh Black for AI in the last 3 weeks of after christmas calving block. ?

Why Welsh black? SG?

 

[Rossymons]

Why Welsh black? SG?

There seems to be a theory that Welsh Black is that fertile you can thaw a straw out, throw it in the bin and walk away with 18 cows incalf. I dont buy that theory personally.

 

[Farmer Keith]

There seems to be a theory that Welsh Black is that fertile you can thaw a straw out, throw it in the bin and walk away with 18 cows incalf. I dont buy that theory personally.

It works better if you mix it in the diet feeder

 

[Sylution]

[QUOTE="Beef farmer,
Why Welsh black? SG?
[/QUOTE]

Father used to use years ago on repeat breaders. And would work well. I know now there is fertility +, but for £6 a straw, I thought I would try.

 

[Big_D]

[QUOTE="Beef farmer,
Why Welsh black? SG?

Father used to use years ago on repeat breaders. And would work well. I know now there is fertility +, but for £6 a straw, I thought I would try.
[/QUOTE]

Up here we use Galloway or Belted Galloway and it works well at stopping repeat breeders

 

[som farmer]

all our beef AI was 1 xBB and 1xaAA, both per cow, worked very well, and will do similar this year, AI chap says, waste a straw, to check fertility under microscope, outcome of 2 straws, 66% BB, and 65% conception

 

[Sid]

Yes, I’ve had dodgy beef conception with a BB bull. I would have expected better conception rates initially as he was used on non replacement cows, usually the lower stressed cows. I’m changing to Fertility plus beef now as there are 3 bulls in a straw.

And not a lot more than single bull. Covers the risk and also wider spread of swimming speed

Father used to use years ago on repeat breaders. And would work well. I know now there is fertility +, but for £6 a straw, I thought I would try.

Up here we use Galloway or Belted Galloway and it works well at stopping repeat breeders
[/QUOTE]
Murray Grey we were told byAI man for repeat breeders

 

[Farmer Fin]

And not a lot more than single bull. Covers the risk and also wider spread of swimming speed


Up here we use Galloway or Belted Galloway and it works well at stopping repeat breeders

Murray Grey we were told byAI man for repeat breeders
[/QUOTE]
Did he have a tank full and needed to flog some by any chance???

 

[Farmer Fin]

I’m not aware of any work showing any bull breed being better and can se no reason why. Fert + type straws where you have different bull with different capacitation times makes the most sense and tends to be slightly higher. The issue with repeat breeders is not normally fertilisation but early embryonic death.

 

[som farmer]

after our AI period, a few will get 3 straws, in with the Herefords, aren't to many Herefords in the calve shed. We have been leaving the bulls in, after 'time up' as I/c cows, are worth more, freshly calved, or I/c than barren. We got caught out last year, we always fertility test the bulls, run 3 Herefords, sold 1 early on, as few bullers, sold another as getting arsey, kept the best one, as 'repeat breeders' by definition harder to get I/c, and an early pd session, showed 60/40 +ve, weren't unduly concerned, last bull was serving the cows, but only getting 3 out of 20 odd I/c, our small autumn block, is tiny, but have 15 nov calvers, which we will run over to spr, always pays to check your bulls, the only consolation, made £3 less in the fat, than we paid for him.

 

[AGN76]

[QUOTE="Beef farmer,
Why Welsh black? SG?

Father used to use years ago on repeat breaders. And would work well. I know now there is fertility +, but for £6 a straw, I thought I would try.
[/QUOTE]
Welsh Black still used around here as fertility plus!

 

[Mr Jones]

Father used to use years ago on repeat breaders. And would work well. I know now there is fertility +, but for £6 a straw, I thought I would try.

Welsh Black still used around here as fertility plus!

As much as i like the breed, they don't seem to sell well ,as calves at local West Wales markets.

 

[AGN76]

As much as i like the breed, they don't seem to sell well ,as calves at local West Wales markets.

They don't sell here either, but the cow is back in the tank!