AI Success Rates

Mac Taylor

Anyone else experiencig problems with AI. A number of guys around are having difficulties especially with heifers. Different technicians and bulls in most cases.

I have 2 ped cows,that took an age to cycle and have now broken twice:(
They are still suckling calves

Any advice?

jay gatsby

No advice unfortunately but in the same boat here. Only have a handful of cows but have been through the mill this year a couple of them are on their third round now.

Putting it down to the weather/grazing conditions etc. They have been well fed but have often been wading through water and sheltering for days.

Haven't investigated further though so will look at advice here with interest.

reilig

Had a fairly good year this year. 5 pedigree cows and only 1 repeated (last friday as it happens). About 25 other cows and heifers gone to AI and probably no more than 5 repeats with no cow going twice (fingers crossed).

Gave alltrace bolus at turnout this year and think it has helped an awful lot in comparison to other years.

Finno59

they recommend taking the calves away from the cows for a few hours each day to bring on heat and increase conception rates. whether this is viable or not thru creep grazing is another thing. But ya terrible weather and bad quality grass are making it more difficult this year than ever

jay gatsby

Finno59 wrote: »

they recommend taking the calves away from the cows for a few hours each day to bring on heat and increase conception rates. whether this is viable or not thru creep grazing is another thing. But ya terrible weather and bad quality grass are making it more difficult this year than ever

Ours are in and out twice a day (old man is at home) so no problems with that. Last year a blind man could see any of ours bulling but this year it's been more hit and miss. Some only stood for an hour, others not really at all.

We thought we'd do better because they often had lots of green grass. In hindsight it was sodden a lot of the time and the value probably wasn't in it. Cows kept condition but as I said breeding/conception has been a mess.

Was the bolus expensive Reilig?

Figerty

Had this problem a few years ago. Vet recommended that they get extra minerals and a few buckets during the summer.
Might sound odd but I was also told check the hooves as sore hooves have a major effect on cows.

reilig

jay gatsby wrote: »

Ours are in and out twice a day (old man is at home) so no problems with that. Last year a blind man could see any of ours bulling but this year it's been more hit and miss. Some only stood for an hour, others not really at all.

We thought we'd do better because they often had lots of green grass. In hindsight it was sodden a lot of the time and the value probably wasn't in it. Cows kept condition but as I said breeding/conception has been a mess.

Was the bolus expensive Reilig?

About €4.50 per cow.

It makes a huge difference to the hair and shine on cows and their calves.

We also use those stick on patches on cows to identify them in standing heat at about €1 per cow.

At €10 per repeat, a later calving date, and the hassle to put them in twice for ai, €6 or €7 per cow is not a huge investment.

Agree with Figerty about the hooves. Best time to pair hooves is in October - just before the animals are housed - we tend to leave the paired ones out for a week or two extra to allow the hoof to harden again before going onto slats. Its also vital to check your bull's feet at this time too - if you run one.

pakalasa

I had a good year overall. I have a teaser bull and he won't miss anything. If anything he tries to mount too early and it's difficult to know when standing heat is. I had one particular cow that repeated twice because I AI'd too early. Both times he had started to mount & mark her a full 2 days before standing heat. I also inject with copper and left a fertility bucket out.
The one year I didn't inject with copper I had a huge amount of repeats.

Bigbird1

Got all incalf on first heat with diy ai,very happy,we use lifeline licks before cows calve,and then i use the am/pm rule,with 2 bullocks on the job of heat detection

just do it

jay gatsby wrote: »

Some only stood for an hour, others not really at all.

How are you picking them up? I've tried all the options and find the vasectomised bull the best. 14 out of 17 in-calf this spring. It would have been 15 except one broke after 3 cycles. 23 straws and 2 of those were given a day later to be sure to be sure. e.g. one was well marked and then stood while the AI man was getting the straw out. We decided it was best just to do her the following day as well.

just do it

reilig wrote: »

Gave alltrace bolus at turnout this year and think it has helped an awful lot in comparison to other years.

Same here and I think it helped.

jay gatsby

just do it wrote: »

How are you picking them up?

Had 2 bullocks in with them and like I say they were only going in and out to calves. I know the teaser bull is a great job and it has many advocates on here but it wasn't really an option this year.

AS I said in a previous post these cows all came around like trains and held first time in previous years so wasn't expecting any trouble this year.

Will take more precautions next yr I hope.

blue5000

just do it wrote: »

Same here and I think it helped.

+2 for all sure, not cheap but cheaper than cedir etc
used them on the late calvers before they calved. I don't do AI but last year (long story bvd) had about 12 cows calving in August, none this year and only 4 in July.