Sexed semen in block calving herds

[som farmer]

On a block calving herd you want every animal you've got to calve on day one
You should be ready to go before the first calf hits the ground
Best block calvers are calving half there herd in first ten days

quite agree, but its a bugger at the time, the hfrs were all served together, but calved over 2 weeks, that's nature for you, as we aimed at the front of the block, and a lot of hfrs calved 1 week early, there were very few cows to 'dilute' them, 12 hfrs in a side, gave them to much wriggle room which gave some the idea it was fine to kick units off,

 

[Beef farmer]

quite agree, but its a bugger at the time, the hfrs were all served together, but calved over 2 weeks, that's nature for you, as we aimed at the front of the block, and a lot of hfrs calved 1 week early, there were very few cows to 'dilute' them, 12 hfrs in a side, gave them to much wriggle room which gave some the idea it was fine to kick units off,

We where putting 29/30 heifers in each side in a 24 unit parlour. 6 weeks later and its all a distant memory tho. Calved 128 heifers in 10 days, and would do it again tomorrow like a shot

 

[Headless chicken]

We where putting 29/30 heifers in each side in a 24 unit parlour. 6 weeks later and its all a distant memory tho. Calved 128 heifers in 10 days, and would do it again tomorrow like a shot

Sync and bulls in? Served to beef?

 

[Beef farmer]

Sync and bulls in? Served to beef?

Sync. Day 6 bulls in

 

[Headless chicken]

Sync. Day 6 bulls in

What program did you use and as in did you serve for 6 days or serve day 1 and nothing for days 2-5?

 

[Beef farmer]

What program did you use and as in did you serve for 6 days or serve day 1 and nothing for days 2-5?

Cydr sync. Served day 1 then nothing till day 6

 

[Grazer]

I stopped all vet fertility treatment 2 years ago, and been delighted. Used to serve dairy 4 weeks then sych what was left (either cidr or ovisynch whatever the vet thought better for specific animals). Now serve as seen for 3 weeks then beef bulls out. I've same number of cows in calf (actually more with each spring and autumn batch that passes), and obviously a fraction of the cost.

Most of the routine hormones were just to give a fixed time AI, because of a weak heat. The bulls found them for free though.

 

[dinderleat]

I'm at a loss why rates have dropped so. It's only semen after all.

Just a having a discussion this morning with a neighbor about how many straws you load at once to serve cows, I said I only ever do one at a time but he’s says upto five. Is there any recommendations on this?

 

[sidjon]

Just a having a discussion this morning with a neighbor about how many straw you load at once to serve cows I said I only ever do one at a time but he’s says upto five. Is there any recommendations on this?

For sexed wouldn't do more than 5, but for normal straw have done 30 without any problems (we thaw with cold water only which may make a difference)

 

[Rossymons]

Just a having a discussion this morning with a neighbor about how many straws you load at once to serve cows, I said I only ever do one at a time but he’s says upto five. Is there any recommendations on this?

I've done 4 or 5 but that depends on the handling facilities and how far away the flask is from the cows.

One farm its next to the herringbone race so I did it one at a time. Another the handling is further away so I load up as many as I'm comfy with.

That's the key - how many can you comfortably handle and still do a good job? It's not a willy waving contest.

 

[Grazer]

I'd always do 2's, but happy with 3. If I have any sexed to do, there will only be one sexed down my back, and it would be used first.

 

[Grazer]

I've done 4 or 5 but that depends on the handling facilities and how far away the flask is from the cows.

One farm its next to the herringbone race so I did it one at a time. Another the handling is further away so I load up as many as I'm comfy with.

That's the key - how many can you comfortably handle and still do a good job? It's not a willy waving contest.

So I'm not up to much in the willy waving front!

 

[Rossymons]

So I'm not up to much in the willy waving front!

Maybe not but I cant fault your semen handling...

Shouldn't have said that, Bald Rick will be here with some double entendres

 

[Beef farmer]

I would question anyone loading 5 on my farm.

 

[Rossymons]

I would question anyone loading 5 on my farm.

Every farm is different - there's no hard and fast rule saying we have to do it a certain way.

 

[In the pit]

Our ai man will have 12/15 straws ready to go at a time .cows are lined up in the race 18 normally .we have a conception rate 65/70 %.
Straws are thawed in blood temperature water and kept down his back.
Normal cows will bull from 8 to 30 hours
The semen will stay alive for up to 24 hours in the once inside the cow, which is a lot of overlap.
Getting cows in calf if the semen is good is down to one thing in particular ENERGY .we all seem to start down the route of cows not getting in calf of saying minerals must be wrong , semen isn't treated right and lots of other excuses.
Just feed your cows well upto drying off at condition score 3 then maintain this through the dry period.get your transition right and hey ho cows should get in calf

 

[Beef farmer]

Every farm is different - there's no hard and fast rule saying we have to do it a certain way.

Really? If a farmer sets protocols, thats a hard and fast rule isnt it?

 

[In the pit]

https://www.agriland.c.o.uk/farming-news/the-root-of-disappointing-scan-results-revealed/

 

[In the pit]

Check this out on Agriland - The root of disappointing scan results revealed https://www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/the-root-of-disappointing-scan-results-revealed/

 

[Rossymons]

Really? If a farmer sets protocols, thats a hard and fast rule isnt it?

It is but I haven't seen one saying we can only serve one at a time. But if that's requested then that's what we'll stick to