Suckler scanning

[Forever Fendt]

Yes they generally are harder to get into calf than cattle. They cycle similar to sheep, so as days get shorter. Otherwise we have to run programmes on them. But that works only about 50% of the time. Success rate, when successful, is 3/5

if i remember correct the guy on this farming life had a few issues getting some in calf

 

[Woolless]

if i remember correct the guy on this farming life had a few issues getting some in calf

I think the bull was at fault there?

 

[Jonny B88]

does every one have complete trust in there scanner?

vet did some few years ago and put dates to them (days in calf) I thought the bull had been real lazy turns out vet was wrong with dates they basically said cows would calve then heifers and it was opposite way around. also scanned one not in calf (but couldn't see a reason no cysts etc) and it calved about 4 month after

had a scan woman this spring, she labelled one as imminent in the next few days the other 5 which were in calf calved long before it!


I don't trust the scanner 100% so I sometimes use them to reinforce my own opinion but always estrumate before I put in finishing pen. if I did trust scanner its a no brainer but I feel they've had too many errors for my trust

All depends how quick the scanning is done after the bull is pulled out as to how accurate the scans are. Think it's 30 days after or something like that as to earliest you can scan. Similar I suppose if you have a drawn out breeding season, the first ones caught will be harder to age.

 

[dannewhouse]

were most of the mistakes on cows that were a fare way on in calf eg 5 months plus ?

I would have said a mixture I think the 1st year of running the sucklers I had them scanned say august time (possibly sept but definitely before comeing in time) when bull had gone in with them early June.
I had the last lot scanned after the majority had calved in spring so yes these would have been heavy in calf and the dates were all over.

I would be happy with just in calf/not in calf but I'm not sure I 100% trust them any way so sometimes give benefit if I'm not convinced, out of the 1st lot the vet did 1 was scanned not in calf but calved 4 month later so I was right that time

 

[Wishful Thinker]

How long has the bull been out perhaps it could be 30days - if bull still in

No was took out mid June unfortunately. Bull was sold and batch was scanned then to make sure he was working but rescanned in the hope she had been nabbed late. No joy. Would have been calving at 23months if held don't fancy keeping her for another year so in with the finishers she goes. [emoji22]

 

[Henarar]

I would have said a mixture I think the 1st year of running the sucklers I had them scanned say august time (possibly sept but definitely before comeing in time) when bull had gone in with them early June.
I had the last lot scanned after the majority had calved in spring so yes these would have been heavy in calf and the dates were all over.

I would be happy with just in calf/not in calf but I'm not sure I 100% trust them any way so sometimes give benefit if I'm not convinced, out of the 1st lot the vet did 1 was scanned not in calf but calved 4 month later so I was right that time

I would be more worried about them not finding a big calf than a six week one
it is a worry though I would hate to send one in calf we did by mistake once and was upset about it for ages after

 

[johnflimston]

Your most welcome fascinating reads too and very informative. He made great breakthroughs in livestock and land management.

Also look for books by Friend Sykes, equally inspiring.

 

[tr250]

Good scanning here 217 in calf out of 228 and 10 sets of twins. Bulls in 16 weeks

 

[beefandsleep]

Good scanning here 217 in calf out of 228 and 10 sets of twins. Bulls in 16 weeks

It would be interesting to hear about your winter feeding system, health protocols and mineral supplementation.

 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

No was took out mid June unfortunately. Bull was sold and batch was scanned then to make sure he was working but rescanned in the hope she had been nabbed late. No joy. Would have been calving at 23months if held don't fancy keeping her for another year so in with the finishers she goes. [emoji22]

Could sell her to a smallholder as a house cow or somit. Get decent money for her and she has a good life

 

[scholland]

I would be more worried about them not finding a big calf than a six week one
it is a worry though I would hate to send one in calf we did by mistake once and was upset about it for ages after

When scanning cows it isn't a case of not seeing anything and saying the cow isn't in calf, the scanner machine is very capable of showing an image of an empty uterus, you see that and there is no doubt she's empty only way to state a cow is yield.

Most pregnancies can be seen at 30 days but the embryo is much more robust at 6 weeks so i tend to not scan until 6 weeks after the bulls were away.

 

[Wishful Thinker]

Could sell her to a smallholder as a house cow or somit. Get decent money for her and she has a good life

That's in an ideal world but I don't live in one of them unfortunately. Tb restrictions have put a stop to that. Stabiliser x Hereford real nice animal, pity.

 

[Jonny B88]

That's in an ideal world but I don't live in one of them unfortunately. Tb restrictions have put a stop to that. Stabiliser x Hereford real nice animal, pity.

Home bred or bought in?

 

[Wishful Thinker]

Home bred or bought in?

Homebred. This is her last June, not her mother.

 

[Jonny B88]

Homebred. This is her last June, not her mother.
View attachment 593484

Looks a well rounded wee calf! Is she out of a hereford cow then? Whats the sires background?

 

[Wishful Thinker]

Looks a well rounded wee calf! Is she out of a hereford cow then? Whats the sires background?

Yea. Stabiliser bull, photo isn't great but I can't find any others. Had super length, used him on heifers as was meant to be easy calving but had mixed results, don't have any figures on him but hope his other calves make good cows, as calves they definitely held more condition compared to lim/blonde but not quite as growthy.

 

[Jonny B88]

Yea. Stabiliser bull, photo isn't great but I can't find any others. Had super length, used him on heifers as was meant to be easy calving but had mixed results, don't have any figures on him but hope his other calves make good cows, as calves they definitely held more condition compared to lim/blonde but not quite as growthy. View attachment 593492

When you say had i take it you no longer use him? What sort of weights did he go to?

 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

That's in an ideal world but I don't live in one of them unfortunately. Tb restrictions have put a stop to that. Stabiliser x Hereford real nice animal, pity.

I'm sorry to hear that.

 

[wellingtonfarmer]

Good scanning here 217 in calf out of 228 and 10 sets of twins. Bulls in 16 weeks

Do you not get fed up with calving over that period of time?

 

[tr250]

Do you not get fed up with calving over that period of time?

no it's ok because in reality we only put a few to calve in Feb 20 ish to test bulls etc whilst we are lambing then main lot calve 15th march heifers only get 6 weeks most will calve april don't get too many in may and probably 4 or 5 in June. But had to put 12 weeksbecause some do get that but notmany