AI Success Rates

Mac Taylor · 21-08-2012 10:50AM #1

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 · 21-08-2012 10:57AM

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 · 21-08-2012 11:00AM

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 · 21-08-2012 11:05AM

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 · 21-08-2012 11:12AM

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 · 21-08-2012 11:25AM

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 · 21-08-2012 12:06PM

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 · 21-08-2012 12:10PM

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 · 21-08-2012 04:33PM

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 · 21-08-2012 09:43PM

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 · 21-08-2012 09:45PM

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 · 22-08-2012 07:48AM

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 · 22-08-2012 01:08PM

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.

funkey_monkey · 28-08-2025 06:10PM

Seems like the best titled AI related thread to ressurrect.

How is everyone getting on with the AI'ing this year? I've got 11 to serve. Currently 5 have held beyond the 24 day upper limit; 2 done similar on their 2nd serve; awaiting on the others to reach that limit. Breakdown is 3/5 have held on FTAI. 4/6 held on Natural heat. Still to scan for confirmation though.

Jesus its frustrating stuff AI'ing them - would get you down when they go into a standing heat. I'm thinking of whether to go back to the bull because of it. I work from home, but it's difficult to get out to the out farm during working day to get them gathered in for service.

It also doesn't help that the majority of my grazing is on two separate outblocks. Only issue is that our fields/paddocks are a bit on the small side for 11 cows plus calves plus bull. Grand in a year like this, but brutal in a wet year.

Anyone getting a decent hold rate? Care to share your success tips?

WoozieWu · 28-08-2025 09:10PM

Minerals energy and rising plane of nutrition

if those are met and still issues its time to cull

there is a genetic element to fertility

some ai here to squeeze more years out of the stockbull

its not simple to get right in a spring calving suckler herd for whatever reason

better conception rates with the autumn calvers here every year same for maidens being bulled for autumn

its a lot of work and worry but worth it when you get it right if you pick the right bull

Silverdream · 29-08-2025 11:41AM

Been AI cows over the last month as the bull is out of action. 7 cows bulling, 1 kept, 1 jumped out of the pen before the AI man arrived, the other 5 are repeats.

The sooner I get a new Bull the better…..

patsy_mccabe · 29-08-2025 01:06PM

I mineral bolus(Tracesure) all my cows about 6 weeks before calving. It's expensive but seems to work well. Vet recommended it after I had a few weak calves. It should also help with fertility as the boluses are good for 6 months.

Timing of AI is very important. 8 to 12 hours after standing heat is ideal. All recorded data internationally backs this up. See graph below. If you're working around what suits the AI man, then you will have lower conception rates.

The weather is also a factor. Nothing like the sunshine on their backs to get them bulling.

Genetics also play a role. Cull your late calving cows.

ABitofsense · 29-08-2025 01:07PM

I've 8 held first time, 2 second & 2 third. One heifer empty as she's not dropping the eggs (scan says) & one with dead calf (for culling). So roughly 60% held first time of the 14 bulled. Worst year since I started as usually up around 80%+ holding first.

I'm back numbers so need to buy a couple incalfs this autumn to keep the numbers up

limo_100 · 29-08-2025 01:18PM

I use all ai and had a good year after a very bad one last year. Last year was so bad I had to go autumn calving this year. But this year out of 10 I have 6scanned in calf two others weren't bulled long enough but there gone passed three weeks. One first time heifer wasn't cycling she's gone thin from a big calf ( happy enough to cull her ) and another one only calved 10weeks was cycling but we hadn't her picked up but she's prid'ed and be bulled Monday. She's a black limo would I be better to put her in calf to a blue and shorten her calving or just stick to a ch bull? she's not a Huge big cow only weights 550kg. Most cows held first serve and a few on second serve and one took 3serves. I gave a shot of overlin before being served.

funkey_monkey · 29-08-2025 05:53PM

Was told that some of my AI'ing was done during the hot summer weather and semen doesn't do well i.

I was using a chelated mineral drench - cheap version of Liquid Gold. A few AI tech's and a vet told me they are mostly the same, just the price.

AI'ed one this morning. Detected in standing heat yesterday evening. Phone in this morning around 8:30 when phones opened. Served around 11;45am. So it would have been outside of the 12hr window - closer to 18hrs. Nothing I can do about that though.

WoozieWu · 29-08-2025 06:03PM

try a bolus 6 weeks ahead of breeding the next time

tanko · 29-08-2025 07:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123766942#Comment_123766942

The hot summer weather thing is nonsense imo, hard to beat plenty of grass in their bellies and the sun on their backs for good conception rates. That cow standing yesterday evening and done at 11.45 should be perfectly fine, “too late” is definitely better than “too early” when it comes to timing of Ai for sure.

I give a kilo of nuts every day before and during the breeding season, a rising plane of nutrition is crucial for good conception rates, thin or hungry cows don’t hold well. The nuts train them to come into the yard too. I do my own Ai and would be very disappointed with anything less than 90% in calf to the first service. Too many Ai techs are rushing the job and not taking enough time and care in my opinion.

Who2 · 29-08-2025 08:13PM

I use both ai and stock bulls here and I had the worst year in a long time, my ai man recommended taking bloods early on after too many repeats and I didn’t at the time but did coming to the end of breeding. Results came back with lepto, ibr and a selenium deficiency. These cows have mineral blocks all year round get well minded and never had a lot of empties
I’d agree with Tanko on the hot weather being a bit of nonsense.

The only advice I’d suggest is to blood them for an accurate picture of what’s really happening. It would have saved me a lot of hassle if I had to do it initially when I first seen a problem.

BeGrand2025 · 30-08-2025 05:51AM

I had a 90% success on first Ai this year, 1 heifer and 1 cow repeated. A couple of things I did:

Very experienced tech who comes at consistent times
Culled all cows with fertility problems
Easy calving bulls so cows bounced back cycling with 1-2 heats before breeding season
Pre-Calver mineral lick post calving
Fertility booster lick 3 weeks pre-calving
You can’t rely on sun and an explosion of summer growth when temperatures rise but it does help and this is the week to keep a closer eye
Heatwave or torrential rain you still need to check, one miserable Sunday morning the tech said I was the only person that rang him. That’s a lot of missed cows.
AI’ing again the following morning if the opportunity arises and cow is still in heat
Tried syncing which resulted in 7/8 holding. Next year I will do all syncing.
Better to serve a cow late rather than early when in heat but this is also a good time to do morning and evening AI to maximise holding.

AI repeats are frustrating but once you have fertility, nutrition and timing you should be getting very low rates.

patsy_mccabe · 30-08-2025 10:07AM

I wonder are there technicians out there, that just deposit the straw, when they can't get tru the cervix. Like there's no way of knowing.

Silverdream · 30-08-2025 12:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123768236#Comment_123768236

Or worse still the straws they are using have at some stage been defrosted and are useless

White Clover · 30-08-2025 12:45PM

What condition are the cows in? That is an awful poor conception rate.

patsy_mccabe · 30-08-2025 12:51PM

We had a technician here years ago, since retired. He was the quickest I ever saw to AI a cow. In and out and his conception rates were excellent. Never any bother with him either. He was at it years. Gave me great advice when I was starting out too.

mahoney_j · 30-08-2025 01:09PM

I had poor enough hot with sexed this year …blooded cows ..nothing out of normal ..not lacking nutrition all I can see is the handeling of sexed straws …straws not tawed …4/5/6 loaded in one go …with cost of sexed straws and what technicians charge for arm service not good enough a simple enough procudere isn’t followed

BeGrand2025 · 30-08-2025 05:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123768236#Comment_123768236

I’d bet it. My tech will be honest and tell me it’s a late heat and he’s having trouble or if I’m unsure he will tell me if she’s in heat or not. He will sometimes check with his gun before risking the straw if I’m really unsure.

I would say handling of straws is

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123768711#Comment_123768711

I’ve stopped using straws from bulls that are gone. I’ve found they often don’t work and I bet it’s from storage or the bull wasn’t working near the end and that’s why they retired him.

funkey_monkey · 31-08-2025 12:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123766975#Comment_123766975

This was suggested to me. I've been using a chelated vitamin and mineral drench this year. Any particular brands or anything to look out of in their make-up?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123767869#Comment_123767869

The AI tech is very experienced.
What would you define as fertility problems - not holding to 1st service; not holding to 2nd service or other?
All bulls are easy calving. Only 1 assisted this year and that was a slight pull by hand as I had to go with work and didn't want to risk leaving her on her own.
Pre-calver minerals fed from housing until calving. When put out to grass they get the chelated minerals/vitamin drench plus a Mg bolus as had issues with Mg deficiency before.
Haven't done this. Mineral/Vitamin drench when put to grass. Drenched again 1 week prior to FTAI.
Ok.
Checked at least twice daily - morning & evening
Do you mean double serving or delaying?
3/5 holding to FTAI here at minute. 6th cow is at 19 days so watching her closely at minute.
We have to phone it in and wait. Not ideal when working too.

AI Success Rates

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