AI in 2016 - discuss?

Siamsa Sessions

Hi all,

Came across an old thread on here (from 2011) about AI-ing ewes: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056403766

Just wondering if it's more worthwhile or cheaper now for commercial flocks? Has anyone with 50-100 sheep gone down the AI route?

Thanks.

Future Farmer

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Hi all,

Came across an old thread on here (from 2011) about AI-ing ewes: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056403766

Just wondering if it's more worthwhile or cheaper now for commercial flocks? Has anyone with 50-100 sheep gone down the AI route?

Thanks.

Really only worthwhile for Pedigree flocks, think it works out at around €20 for serve plus straw, so you'd be looking at something around €40 a head....

Siamsa Sessions

Future Farmer wrote: »

Really only worthwhile for Pedigree flocks, think it works out at around €20 for serve plus straw, so you'd be looking at something around €40 a head....

Holy moly - I thought that €20 was going to cover the whole lot!

Might just sponge them and buy Belclare ram instead. Our fencing is not good enough yet to keep a teasing ram in next field to ewes

rangler1

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Holy moly - I thought that €20 was going to cover the whole lot!

Might just sponge them and buy Belclare ram instead. Our fencing is not good enough yet to keep a teasing ram in next field to ewes

it's a surgical procedure, so a vet has to do it and hence the hefty charge,
Did it a few years here with frozen semen.....rubbish results.
Teasing ram only needs to be with ewes for 48hrs , some farmers tie a bag around the belly of the ram to prevent him from serving or builds a temporary pen for him in the middle of the field of ewes for the forty eight hours.
Spongeing can give poor results too, some rams stay with the same flipping ewe all the mating day and ewes coming in all round him. for spongeing you'll need one ram per 10 ewes

Siamsa Sessions

rangler1 wrote: »

a temporary pen for him in the middle of the field of ewes for the forty eight hours

Tis so obvious when you say it, I'm embarrassed not to have thought of it myself!

So, build your pen in the middle of the field, put the ram into it for 2 days, and then release him on the 3rd day to surrounding ewes?

rangler1

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Tis so obvious when you say it, I'm embarrassed not to have thought of it myself!

So, build your pen in the middle of the field, put the ram into it for 2 days, and then release him on the 3rd day to surrounding ewes?

Not quiet, to get maximum effect from teasing you need to keep the ewes away from sight or smell of the rams for six weeks.
Then two weeks before mating you put the rams beside the ewes for 48 hrs. take away the rams and wait 12 days before you put them with the ewes, they will be cycling well by then.
Always do it here and would have 95% lambed in the first three weeks, we lamb in three consecutive batches seventeen days apart here and haven't the set up to deal with one batch not being out of the way before the next batch starts

Siamsa Sessions

rangler1 wrote: »

Not quiet, to get maximum effect from teasing you need to keep the ewes away from sight or smell of the rams for six weeks.
Then two weeks before mating you put the rams beside the ewes for 48 hrs. take away the rams and wait 12 days before you put them with the ewes, they will be cycling well by then.
Always do it here and would have 95% lambed in the first three weeks, we lamb in three consecutive batches seventeen days apart here and haven't the set up to deal with one batch not being out of the way before the next batch starts

Thanks a million. Need to start getting prepared and source good ram now.

charolais0153

Do many people let them out on a day other than a friday

rangler1

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Thanks a million. Need to start getting prepared and source good ram now.

Here's another idea, but.........where there's a will(y) there's always a way

https://theteaserramharness.com/products/

Siamsa Sessions

rangler1 wrote: »

Here's another idea, but.........where there's a will(y) there's always a way

https://theteaserramharness.com/products/

I was only wondering the other day if any innovator out there had come up with such a yoke!

To be honest, it might be easier and more efficient to get one of those "condoms" rather than putting up and taking down a temporary pen of gates out in the field; as well as keeping ewe lambs away from him, or setting up more temporary fencing. I'll have a look to see if there's any suppliers in Ireland/UK.

grassroot1

Or just get a teaser done