AI Success Rates

They all came into heat shortly after. I know it was a success. One of them had twins, then again she has had 3 sets of twins and rejects one every time.

The following year I came on her licking a freshly calved calf and giving birth to another. I grabbed the calf and came back for her. Never copped until later that evening that the first calf wasn't her calf but had rolled in from the next pen. Like 'tales if the unexpected' she raised two calves that year.

Anyone warm up the sheaths before loading the gun? I did it here for the last 2 times as the weather was very cold at the time.

I warm the Sheath down inside my front clothes, against my skin.

Would suggest getting silage tested if you think you have copper issues, sulphur applications to grassland don't help the situation I think

Your conception rates are in normal range. 2nd service a bit disappointing but with small numbers 1 cow extra going in calf makes a big difference. There is a lot of factors outside minerals effecting cows going in calf.

There is some money wasted in ireland on boluses and expensive minerals. Largely driven by sales reps talking nonsense. Unless something definite comes back as a deficiency, I wouldn't be bothering with expensive boluses.

Iv 20 cows served now. First cow repeated after 62 days. Last 2 i AIed I know i didnt get them. Confidence would take a hit after handling a couple and you knowing they weren't done.

NOt getting the gun into the cervix. Can find it most of the time and feel the edge with the gun.

The first year can be tough, there’s no denying that but the only way to master it is to keep at it, when you get the hang of it you’ll do it without thinking about what you’re doing. If you change the angle of the cervix up a down and over and back while gently prodding the gun forward, it usually slips in. Is it possible for you to do the first serves (or ring them if you don’t get one on the day) and get an Ai tech to do repeats until you build your confidence??

Doing the course I remember your man saying to grab the cervix basically. I can never really get my hand around the cervix. More pinching the top of it iykwim. The AI tech is a good lad but I just found the timing would never work for me because I was at the end of his area. Not his fault he can't be everywhere at once. Iv a good few gone over 21days so im doing something right.

Talking to another lad who reckons the collars pick them up too soon and its too early to serve a lot of the time. One today was standing heat all day, collar said she was fit to do this evening although she was still visibly on heat. Is it too early if she still mounting? I might try her again in the morning

The timing is the problem there. If I was doing that id probably do her first. Ill try avoid that if I can

if she was standing this morning, doing her this evening should be fine even if she’s still bulling.
Try to stay positive about it, you’re probably doing better than you think.
maybe keep a diary recording each insemination, how long they were standing, done “early” or “late” and how well you think you think each attempt went, I did this and found it useful and learnt from it

With the L shaped cervix, pull it and the gun towards you to straighten it out and you should be able to get the gun in further.
The most important thing I’ve learnt about Ai’ing cows is that you don’t need to get the gun he whole way through to get them in calf, if you feel you’re more than half way that works the best imo,

Wouldn't say great job!

Well curiosity got the better of me and I went and bought another thermometer from Amazon, when I was getting a few other things.

I did a trial in water at around 35c and they both agree. I put both down my front and the most I could get was 29c. Now it was a cold day and I had just come in from being out.

I was be cold-blooded or something.

Tweezers to take straws out

Thermos flask to thaw straws

Sharp scissors to cut top of straws

A clock beside the flask to time how long to thaw straws

A thermometer that reads between 0 and 40 degrees,

A pack of sheaths

An Ai gun or two, i find the Alpha gun and sheaths better than the standard gun and sheaths

A box of arm length gloves

A bottle of lubricant

Any Ai company should supply the tweezers, Ai gun, sheaths, gloves, lubricant and thermometer