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AI Success Rates

135

Comments

  • #62
    funkey_monkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,260 ✭✭✭funkey_monkey


    Using scratch cards. One of the cows was 21 days served yesterday. When I was out checking them she discharged a long clear slime which indicated to me that she was coming into heat. 24hrs later and no sign of standing heat. She had been served twice already so looks like she is going to the cull ring later in year when her calf is reared and pd'ed. Maybe it is delayed, but she'll not be served again as I'm not overly happy with her performance too risk extending the calving interval. Plus I've heifers that might be better suited that I can bring in instead.



  • #63
    limo_100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭limo_100


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123801042#Comment_123801042

    Have seen them come a few days after the clear slime I had to fight the urge to bull with the slime I thought I'd missed the heat but they came after thankfully. Had one last year was 21 days gone thought she was safe and in calf but she repeated on day 23 so bulled her again but changed the bull and used 2 straws



  • #64
    funkey_monkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,260 ✭✭✭funkey_monkey


    Well, I had made the decision not to AI anything that repeats for a 3rd time. There have been 3 that repeated for 3rd time; the last of which was a heifer than held until just over 30 days. I got the AI tech to pre scan her and he said she needed FTAI to get her cycling. Of the other 2, one had a strange type of meningitis last summer but held to a subsequent heat, never really seemed to fully recover from it though. The other one is a bit of an unknown as to why she didn't hold, but she was a late calver so that is 2 years in a row and so maybe best that she goes now, but obviously would have preferred that she held.

    I usually try to keep around 10, but at the minute I'm looking at 8 prior to scanning. Got 2 of this years heifer calves that I intend to bull at 15/16 months to bring me back up to 10 next year.

    If everything holds (which is a big assumption in this weather) then 1st service hold will have been 55% (6/11) and 2nd service hold would have been 40% (2/5). Of the 1st time services, FTAI was 50% (3/6) and natural is 60% (3/5). 2nd service was all natural heats.

    I've got enough straws for one more year and then I'll likely switch back to a bull as there rates aren't great - and could be worse yet.



  • #65
    funkey_monkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,260 ✭✭✭funkey_monkey


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123801249#Comment_123801249

    She didn't show anything until about 40 days. Guessing that the other cows didn't mount her the first time for some reason. It was only on day 40 (I think) that the scratchcard showed a standing heat, but I was too late. That was the only heat I missed all season.

    Plan for next year is to bolus them (any suggestions?) and go from there.



  • #66
    White Clover
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,101 ✭✭✭White Clover


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123875106#Comment_123875106

    Did you have blood tests taken prior to breeding to ascertain mineral status? Losing the embryo at 6 weeks points to a selenium deficiency.

    Blood test to see what minerals are required. Choose your bolus then.



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  • #67
    funkey_monkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,260 ✭✭✭funkey_monkey


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123875458#Comment_123875458

    No. No bloods done. Are the conception rates sufficiently or to suggest there is an issue in the herd rather than with the AI itself?



  • #68
    bogman_bass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,505 ✭✭✭bogman_bass


    one thing that hasn’t been mentioned is water temperature. Make sure you thaw to the correct temperature and have your gun warmed down your collar



  • #69
    whelan2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 31,463 ✭✭✭✭whelan2


    We scanned yesterday. I knew we had alot of repeats to the bull. But he didn't put 1 in calf. Thankfully we'd ai'd for a longer time than normal before we put him in. 95% of those held. Used sexed first and then beef straws. We put the bull in as we were busy with oh being ill. I'll roll some of them over to autumn calving and sell the rest to a feedlot as we're locked up. Had used that bull for 2 years no problem. He broke out at the end of march one night and put 4 cows in calf- he must have spent the summer recovering from that night...he's gone now



  • #70
    funkey_monkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,260 ✭✭✭funkey_monkey


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123876142#Comment_123876142

    That is out of my control as I don't do the AI myself.



  • #71
    patsy_mccabe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,768 ✭✭✭✭patsy_mccabe


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123876142#Comment_123876142

    I did a few trials myself when I started doing AI. I put the thermometer down onto my belly similar to what I'd be doing with the gun. The most I could get the thermometer to was 32C. That took 2 mins and never went any higher. I guess that's why they advise getting the straw into the cow, within 5 mins of loading the gun.

    I also did a test on the thermos flask I use to thaw the straws. I left it outside on a table. Ambient temp was 18C. It took a full 2 hours for the water temp to drop from 37C to 35C. Took a full 6 hours from start for it to drop to 32C.

    When I'm AI'ing cows a mile from home, I pop the straw into the Thermos flask at home. I have the cow ready in the head gate beforehand. I then drive the mile and load the gun when I get there. A better option than loading the gun at home. The area manager for the AI company advised this also.



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  • #72
    bogman_bass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,505 ✭✭✭bogman_bass


    I think you need a new thermometer by the sounds of things. Were you housing the plastic strip?

    Looking at semen under a microscope it’s amazing the difference a few degrees makes

    The other thing ya dry the straw. Nothing kills sperm faster than water



  • #73
    patsy_mccabe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,768 ✭✭✭✭patsy_mccabe


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123876621#Comment_123876621

    I think you could be right. I redone the test there and ya 32C was all I could get against the skin. I did the same test with an electronic thermometer, for measuring calf temperature and I was getting 33.7c when it beeped.

    You'd expect the ordinary thermometer to be right. It's a Brannan.

    I always dry the straw. Flick it and dry on tissue. I even repeat this quickly.



  • #74
    Hard Knocks
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,423 ✭✭✭Hard Knocks


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123876413#Comment_123876413

    I’d an AI tech thaw a straw in his arm pit and the cow held



  • #75
    funkey_monkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,260 ✭✭✭funkey_monkey


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123875458#Comment_123875458

    Will soon be PD'ing the cows and was thinking again about blood tests.

    Cows are now housed and getting pre-calver minerals alongside the silage. Bearing this in mind would there be any point at this stage bleeding the empties to see if there is any deficiency in them or would I be better waiting to start of breeding season and bleeding them then and resolving this issue prior to FTAI?

    I'm just wondering if the pre-calver minerals which they get all throughout winter will adversely affect any blood test - i.e. the deficiency only becomes apparent when out at grass.

    Not sure what to do. I'm probably on my last year of AI before I need to make a decision about returning to a bull. Also not overly happy with the shape/size of some calves so there will have to be some replacements introduced into the herd as well.

    It's great to get a living calf, but at the same time others are getting better quality for the same, if not less, effort and expense.



  • #76
    White Clover
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,101 ✭✭✭White Clover


    If the Vet is in the yard scanning the cows, I'd get him/her to take a blood sample from 15% of the herd that will be for breeding next year. Work off of them results then.

    Llikewise, if you're not over happy with young stock performance, I'd do a few samples to establish their mineral profile and then work from there.



  • #77
    148multi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,354 ✭✭✭148multi


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123879085#Comment_123879085

    When I worked as a tech I always thawed under arm, no issues. Still do for for myself .

    Synchronised 58 cow for one day and 53 held



  • #78
    limo_100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭limo_100


    any of the lads with tanks do you need power for the tank or are they grand with the nitrogen just sitting in the tank. Going to do the course this year and don’t really have power in the yard yet.



  • #79
    tanko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,550 ✭✭✭tanko


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123962633#Comment_123962633

    No power needed, just get the tank topped up with liquid nitrogen every three months



  • #80
    patsy_mccabe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,768 ✭✭✭✭patsy_mccabe


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123962633#Comment_123962633

    No power for tank, but you will need to be be able to boil a kettle to get water temp to between 35 to 37C for thawing straw.



  • #81
    limo_100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭limo_100


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123962828#Comment_123962828

    do some people not thaw it under there arm? my Man doesn't seem to have anything to plugged in and he's out all day. How many cows would lads consider to have a flash? about 30 here but thing it would be a worth while investment to have one. have to do the course next year going to book it with dunmasc when I get a full holiday balance.



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  • #82
    ABitofsense
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 775 ✭✭✭ABitofsense


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123963039#Comment_123963039

    I plan on doing the course myself next year & I've only ~15. I've a tank a few years now & that alone has helped the improve breeding selection here massively. Just need the flexibility to do the AI'ing myself when it suits me & not the technician



  • #83
    limo_100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭limo_100


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123963155#Comment_123963155

    that’s what I’m thinking also. And I can keep bulls that work for me and so on. If you have your own flask why do you need to do the course of you already do your own?



  • #84
    ABitofsense
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 775 ✭✭✭ABitofsense


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123963188#Comment_123963188

    Course to do it myself. Up to now id ring the tech & he'd use my straws. But just his timing for coming is clashing with the off farm job & easier if I can do it myself before or after work



  • #85
    limo_100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭limo_100


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123963253#Comment_123963253

    that’s a pain alright this will free you up then. How much does it cost for the nitrogen every year?



  • #86
    funkey_monkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,260 ✭✭✭funkey_monkey


    What is the cost of running a flask? Are they not very expensive?

    I've only 10 - 11 so not sure if it's worthwhile for me. Would you not need to be regularly ai'ing cows to be proficient at it?



  • #87
    visatorro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,133 ✭✭✭visatorro


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123963309#Comment_123963309

    Was told 250ish a year to top up.

    Youd wonder about is 10 cows enough. Id imagine it takes plenty of practice. Seen farm theory saying he was only getting 25-30% conception rates from doing his own AI. Maybe there's other issues but that would be an expensive way of working



  • #88
    limo_100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭limo_100


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123963354#Comment_123963354

    I seen an ai gun on TikTok with a camera on it would probably help conception rates had a camera at the end of them gun, could tell which side the egg was dropped



  • #89
    148multi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,354 ✭✭✭148multi


    Dovea do a good deal for nitrogen if you buy €150 worth of straws of them



  • #90
    dodo mommy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 353 ✭✭dodo mommy


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123879085#Comment_123879085

    I always thaw the straw under my arm pit, & never have a problem with conception rate.



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  • #91
    funkey_monkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,260 ✭✭✭funkey_monkey


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123966432#Comment_123966432

    When you say no problems with conception rate are you talking about holding to the 1st serve?

    Is there a major difference between doing your own AI and getting in a tech in terms of hold rates?



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