Fertility bolus for the suckler cow

Buncha Fives

As I mentioned before I am having serious problems getting the cows to come in heat, as far as I am aware I have everything in order...the calves drink the cows twice a day, cows had an easy calving, they are in good condition and are eating 71DMD silage and getting meal but its over 3 months since they calved and there is no sign of heat.

Anyone know if there is a bolus that helps fertility and bring cows into heat, anyone got any idea what they are called and where they can be got?

reilig

Buncha Fives wrote: »

As I mentioned before I am having serious problems getting the cows to come in heat, as far as I am aware I have everything in order...the calves drink the cows twice a day, cows had an easy calving, they are in good condition and are eating 71DMD silage and getting meal but its over 3 months since they calved and there is no sign of heat.

Anyone know if there is a bolus that helps fertility and bring cows into heat, anyone got any idea what they are called and where they can be got?

Our last discussion group meeting was on a farm which had really good calving intervals. Farm owner put it down to giving a high iodine bolus to cows 6 weeks before they calve. Farm had 17 sucklers and all 17 had calved under 350 days in 2013.

You could get blood taken to see if they are deficient?

Buncha Fives

reilig wrote: »

Our last discussion group meeting was on a farm which had really good calving intervals. Farm owner put it down to giving a high iodine bolus to cows 6 weeks before they calve. Farm had 17 sucklers and all 17 had calved under 350 days in 2013.

You could get blood taken to see if they are deficient?

Thats an exceptional calving interval, I only have a few cows and its hard to justify calling a vet out just to take a blood sample, I think I will chance some kind of a bolus to give the cows a kick start...they look quite healthy but there is obviously a problem somewhere!!

RobinBanks

Without having read the previous thread, have you tried using Cidr's?

Buncha Fives

RobinBanks wrote: »

Without having read the previous thread, have you tried using Cidr's?

Probably a bit costly for the operation that I would be running...do you need a vet or AI man to insert them?

Dozer1

Went with the Osmond fertility bolus this year for the cows on Saturday, most of the cows showing signs of heat but going to give them every chance I can.

its tough work giving them to sucklers but a good halter goes along way

Buncha Fives

Dozer1 wrote: »

Went with the Osmond fertility bolus this year for the cows on Saturday, most of the cows showing signs of heat but going to give them every chance I can.

its tough work giving them to sucklers but a good halter goes along way

Might try them; where did you get them and how much did they cost? Can you buy them individually or do you have to buy a full box of them?

Dozer1

just rang the head office, number on their website, they go the local rep to ring me, 12 in a box, got 2 boxes and a dosing gun. don't have the price to hand,

RobinBanks

Buncha Fives wrote: »

Probably a bit costly for the operation that I would be running...do you need a vet or AI man to insert them?

I will check out the price when I get home. You have to get them from the vet but depending on the vet you might be able to insert them yourself. I insert them myself but its not something I would recommend. I've had very mixed results over the years, but if you are having such trouble perhaps you could try it on one cow as a trial. If she doesn't come in heat then there is something wrong.

Last week i put a Cidr in a first calver that calved last Nov. I use Kamars and a strong weanling to detect but haven't been able to get her. Got vet to look at her to check for any health issues. He advised to use the Cidr.

If you are having trouble with the whole herd then blood test I suppose is the best option.

blue5000

Copper bolus is usually what improves fertility, are you in a high molybdenum or copper deficient area? I think it might be worth spending a few quid on blood samples rather than spending more on this and that trying to guess what the problem is.

flatout11

Buncha Fives wrote: »

As I mentioned before I am having serious problems getting the cows to come in heat, as far as I am aware I have everything in order...the calves drink the cows twice a day, cows had an easy calving, they are in good condition and are eating 71DMD silage and getting meal but its over 3 months since they calved and there is no sign of heat.

Anyone know if there is a bolus that helps fertility and bring cows into heat, anyone got any idea what they are called and where they can be got?

what kinda of surface are they on - slats bedded etc.. can have a big impact on expression of heat - also how often or how long do you spend heat checking the cows?
if they are 3 months calved and not cycling the last thing i would consider is minerals - (there would be other serrious health concerns if it was!),
From you post yopu seem to be on top of managemtn so i would focus on improving heat detection - aids such as tail paint or scratch cards will help
cidrs are an option - will aid the use of AI in the process

Bizzum

flatout11 wrote: »

what kinda of surface are they on - slats bedded etc.. can have a big impact on expression of heat - also how often or how long do you spend heat checking the cows?
if they are 3 months calved and not cycling the last thing i would consider is minerals - (there would be other serrious health concerns if it was!),
From you post yopu seem to be on top of managemtn so i would focus on improving heat detection - aids such as tail paint or scratch cards will help
cidrs are an option - will aid the use of AI in the process

My exact thoughts! Heat expression can be minimal in some scenarios!

Buncha Fives

flatout11 wrote: »

what kinda of surface are they on - slats bedded etc.. can have a big impact on expression of heat - also how often or how long do you spend heat checking the cows?
if they are 3 months calved and not cycling the last thing i would consider is minerals - (there would be other serrious health concerns if it was!),
From you post yopu seem to be on top of managemtn so i would focus on improving heat detection - aids such as tail paint or scratch cards will help
cidrs are an option - will aid the use of AI in the process

The cows lie in cubicles and are on slats when they are eating but they are out in the yard twice a day for half an hour when the calves are sucking. The cows are closely monitored for heat, I check them 3/4 times a day - 6.30 in the morning, I usually come home from work at lunchtime (1 o' clock) after work 6 o' clock and last thing at night 10.30, also my father is in the yard all the time and he looks at them maybe 10 times a day...I am confident they are not cycling, very hard to know what to do!

flatout11

Buncha Fives wrote: »

The cows lie in cubicles and are on slats when they are eating but they are out in the yard twice a day for half an hour when the calves are sucking. The cows are closely monitored for heat, I check them 3/4 times a day - 6.30 in the morning, I usually come home from work at lunchtime (1 o' clock) after work 6 o' clock and last thing at night 10.30, also my father is in the yard all the time and he looks at them maybe 10 times a day...I am confident they are not cycling, very hard to know what to do!

look some cows (usually the best looking ones) will only be on heat for a short period and/or display only weak signs- personally id reccommend you consider using a simple cidr/prid synch on them - may be a good option if your relying on ai to buy a teaser/ bullock to run with them for a few months

munkus

Took the plunge and bought these Osmond bolus super grazing 250. Works out 8.40 a cow. Single bolus that is fu#kin massive! Size of two normal bolus. Supposed to swell inside the cow so less chance of coughing them up. Some job to do sucklers without a head scoop I'd say!

Sami23

Dozer1 wrote: »

just rang the head office, number on their website, they go the local rep to ring me, 12 in a box, got 2 boxes and a dosing gun. don't have the price to hand,

Will you dig out the price when you get a chance. Thanks

GrandSoftDay

munkus wrote: »

Took the plunge and bought these Osmond bolus super grazing 250. Works out 8.40 a cow. Single bolus that is fu#kin massive! Size of two normal bolus. Supposed to swell inside the cow so less chance of coughing them up. Some job to do sucklers without a head scoop I'd say!

Tis a small thing but any time I used them I used to dip the head of the gun in a bit of liquid paraffin, they take it down a lot easier I found.

munkus

GrandSoftDay wrote: »

Tis a small thing but any time I used them I used to dip the head of the gun in a bit of liquid paraffin, they take it down a lot easier I found.

Good idea! This yoke is like a coke bottle.

GrandSoftDay

munkus wrote: »

Good idea! This yoke is like a coke bottle.

Best of luck with it, rather you than me doing it Did 80 cows in a day a few years ago when I was on placement. Fecking arms were hanging off me by the time we were finished them.