Empty heifers

[Devon lad]

Did our scanning on our 78 spring calving heifers a few weeks ago and the empty rate is quite high. 11/78, 9 week breed period.
Usual empty rate 3-4/80 or 5%.
50 top heifers selected for 21 day ai to natural heats using lic sexed semen and scratch cards + observations.
Other 28 2nd class heifers ran with 3 Hereford bulls non-fertility checked.

After 21 days the ai’d heifers joined the 2nd class heifers and 3x Hereford bulls.

Of the 11 empty’s, 9 of them were the AI’d group. Seems to be a high ratio. Clearly the bulls worked ok on the 2nd class heifers but the AI heifers that did not hold to AI also didn’t hold to the bulls.
Early embryo loss/reabsorbion?
All heifers were well grown and bulling really well, winter diet was slightly different than usual as our kale yield was low so more silage were fed out in the field, but the winter was kind and spring grazing was fantastic.
Any thoughts much appreciated.

 

[vantage]

Did our scanning on our 78 spring calving heifers a few weeks ago and the empty rate is quite high. 11/78, 9 week breed period.
Usual empty rate 3-4/80 or 5%.
50 top heifers selected for 21 day ai to natural heats using lic sexed semen and scratch cards + observations.
Other 28 2nd class heifers ran with 3 Hereford bulls non-fertility checked.

After 21 days the ai’d heifers joined the 2nd class heifers and 3x Hereford bulls.

Of the 11 empty’s, 9 of them were the AI’d group. Seems to be a high ratio. Clearly the bulls worked ok on the 2nd class heifers but the AI heifers that did not hold to AI also didn’t hold to the bulls.
Early embryo loss/reabsorbion?
All heifers were well grown and bulling really well, winter diet was slightly different than usual as our kale yield was low so more silage were fed out in the field, but the winter was kind and spring grazing was fantastic.
Any thoughts much appreciated.

I’m thinking that the ai heifers had less chance to get in calf if the semen at first service was less fertile. I had a shocker with my autumn heifers, ai’d to sexed after cider sync, maybe 25% in calf to 1st service. Spring group, AA bull was straight in and I’ve served more cows to sexed, which has led to a higher return rate, I cannot win!

 

[Devon lad]

I’ve just read an Irish farmers journal article and there are very few single digit empty rates being reported in spring calving herds and even higher empty rates in heifers this year?
Interesting?

 

[Beef farmer]

I’ve just read an Irish farmers journal article and there are very few single digit empty rates being reported in spring calving herds and even higher empty rates in heifers this year?
Interesting?

Ive spoke to a man over in IRE this week, he assured me that mt run around cows wont be hard to find this year

 

[jimmer]

Just my thoughts
Tell lic if you haven't already
Next year, synch those chosen for ai, but put bulls in next day
they didn't hold to ai for whatever reason, you then put them in with untested bulls, if only one was working he would have been pushed to cover them all and if he had run out of puff getting the first lot pregnant...... Or he didn't fancy posh birds ?

 

[Devon lad]

Ive spoke to a man over in IRE this week, he assured me that mt run around cows wont be hard to find this year

Too much sexed being used? The greenfield moorpark herd has 12.5% nic after 14 weeks!
I’m scanning the cows tomorrow and I’m feeling a bit nervous

 

[Beef farmer]

Too much sexed being used? The greenfield moorpark herd has 12.5% nic after 14 weeks!
I’m scanning the cows tomorrow and I’m feeling a bit nervous

Youd have a rough feel for the job from what youve seen bulling....

 

[More to life]

Ive spoke to a man over in IRE this week, he assured me that mt run around cows wont be hard to find this year

Are you buying before 31st October?

 

[Devon lad]

Youd have a rough feel for the job from what youve seen bulling....

Yeah I’ve only written down a dozen bulling so fingers crossed 6% ish 12 weeks I’d be well happy

 

[Beef farmer]

Are you buying before 31st October?

All under control

 

[jimmer]

I'm later than most, my 6week icr is looking like being 50% (pd'd up to day 27 so far) bulls went on for third round and worked hard, stickered everything again start of 4th round and things are quieter ??

 

[Princess Pooper]

Just my thoughts
Tell lic if you haven't already
Next year, synch those chosen for ai, but put bulls in next day
they didn't hold to ai for whatever reason, you then put them in with untested bulls, if only one was working he would have been pushed to cover them all and if he had run out of puff getting the first lot pregnant...... Or he didn't fancy posh birds ?

sexed not usually recommended for a sync programme.

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

sexed not usually recommended for a sync programme.

Yep we tried it once never again.

 

[Manney]

I have sexed in the flask but decided against using it.

We've done ok this year with 90% in calf over 12 weeks, thats cows and hefs including anything not severed with the intention of culling. 6 week in calf rate is 79% so I'm happy with the result.

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

I have sexed in the flask but decided against using it.

We've done ok this year with 90% in calf over 12 weeks, thats cows and hefs including anything not severed with the intention of culling. 6 week in calf rate is 79% so I'm happy with the result.

I bet your cows would hold fine to sexed.

 

[Manney]

I bet your cows would hold fine to sexed.

Still trying to build cow numbers aswell as keeping a tight block so at the moment I'm not risking it. In a couple of years time when I've got cows numbers where I want them I will probably have a go with it.

 

[Devon lad]

9% nic scanned here this morning over 12 weeks, not great but not a disaster either. Vet said sheep scanning was down a lot this year, same amount of empty’s but more singles

 

[SolwayFarmer]

Yep we tried it once never again.

I’d completely agree with that. 40 straws used. 6 in calf and first one to calf so far has had a bull so a complete waste of time and money

 

[Rossymons]

Did our scanning on our 78 spring calving heifers a few weeks ago and the empty rate is quite high. 11/78, 9 week breed period.
Usual empty rate 3-4/80 or 5%.
50 top heifers selected for 21 day ai to natural heats using lic sexed semen and scratch cards + observations.
Other 28 2nd class heifers ran with 3 Hereford bulls non-fertility checked.

After 21 days the ai’d heifers joined the 2nd class heifers and 3x Hereford bulls.

Of the 11 empty’s, 9 of them were the AI’d group. Seems to be a high ratio. Clearly the bulls worked ok on the 2nd class heifers but the AI heifers that did not hold to AI also didn’t hold to the bulls.
Early embryo loss/reabsorbion?
All heifers were well grown and bulling really well, winter diet was slightly different than usual as our kale yield was low so more silage were fed out in the field, but the winter was kind and spring grazing was fantastic.
Any thoughts much appreciated.

What were the dates of Service? i'm guessing early May to Mid June?

 

[Devon lad]

27/4-17/5 only did 1 cycle of AI