Fertility problem - Desperate to get heifer in calf

Sue E · Post by **Sue E** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 5:13 pm

I purchased my first dexter heifer last year at 14 months of age and put her to the bull at 16 months old. She came bulling regularly but the bull was not at all interested despite serving other cows in the field and having his first crop of calves on the ground. I then tried AI and after 3 attempts she is still bulling every 3 weeks and is not in calf! The vet gave her an internal and can find nothing obviously wrong so I now would like any advice as to where I go from here. The heifer is just what I wanted in a Dexter, the right size and confirmation, well handled and an absolute sweety so I am loathe to put her in the freezer but to keep her as a pet on the farm is not an option! Any advice would be greatfully received.

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 5:37 pm

When you say you bought her last year, do you mean 2004? If so she must be getting on a bit by now, and as she seems to be cycling fine it is likely that there is some reason she has not conceived - there may be some sort of blockage in oviducts for example. Whatever the reason it is unlikely that she will be a good breeder in future and sadly I would suggest not trying any further.

If you do want to persist ask your vet if he/she can either do tests or refer her to someone who can to check the patency of the oviducts.

Sorry not to be more optomistic

Duncan

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 4:10 am

I had to wait 2 years for one of my first timers to produce a calf. She finally did produce a calf this year. I fed her a couple of Tablespoons of Codliver oil in with her feed. Someone suggested I feed it 2-3 months before put the cow to the bull. Its the Vitamin E that they may be lacking in.

I've also read that seaweed powder added to their feed can help. Its worth a try. All the best.

Sue E · Post by **Sue E** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 11:38 am

Sorry-my mistake I was thinking I was in 2006 already! The heifer in question was purchased in 2005 and will not be 2 years old until March 2006 so I feel it is worth trying a bit longer to get her in calf.

Louisa Gidney · Post by **Louisa Gidney** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 1:21 pm

I had a similar problem when I started with my first heifer back in the 80's. My vet then just advised waiting for spring, extra daylight & fresh grass help. Also my heifer only held when I hired a bull to come to her, rather than taking her to a bull. She was too stressed being in a strange place with strange beasts to hold. The vet also provided a "holding jab" which was given to her at service. Perhaps Duncan can explain exactly what this is. She was nearly 4 years old before she produced her first calf but then bred like clockwork thereafter. So, be patient. She's not even 2 years old yet so give her time.

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 1:23 pm

Hello Sue,

that does seem a bit more hopeful, can you get the use of a Dexter bull again? If she only had one chance of the bull before it is not fair to judge her on that, thouugh she should really have settled after several AI services. In my own small herd I have never been very pleased with the conception to AI, usually only about 33%, despite a very cooperative AI man.

I would not persist too long though especially if she is your first Dexter, you want some results sometime or Dexter owning becomes a dull sport.

Duncan

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 1:29 pm

Hello again,

the holding jag Louisa speaks of is most likely "Receptal" which stimulates the release of luteinising hormone. It can be given 4 to 6 hours before service and repeated in 12 days. Since your vet has seen the heifer he may be happy to supply the bottle without visiting her again. It is said to improve conception rates by about 10% in commercial dairy herds, more difficult to assess success in your situation.

Duncan

Sue E · Post by **Sue E** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 1:06 pm

Many thanks for all the advice. I am going to try a different bull although she did run with the last one through three cycles. As I have some AI straws left I may try the 'Receptal' first and see if we have any luck. I hope I will get some results in the spring as due to the hassle with this first one I then decided to buy 2 cows in calf to get me started. I also have 2 heifer calves which I purchased with a view to perhaps having a go at showing as an added interest if they turn out OK.

Sue E · Post by **Sue E** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 1:25 pm

Does anyone have any ideas why the bull would not have been interested in serving this heifer when he covered the rest of the herd OK as she did cycle regularly. I did make enquiries from her breeder and she is definitely not a twin.

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 4:09 pm

If she was really cycling whilst with the bull it is difficult to explain. Would there be any possibility that she was not cycling? Or even that she was in calf but lost it and then began cycling again? Ylur vet might have has some inkling of that when she was examined - the uterus of a maiden dexter heifer is really very small compared to larger breeds.

Duncan

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:21 am

The cow that we had, which didn't get in-calf until she was 4 years old (last year). She's cycled this season and been mated, the bulling beacon has indicated, so perhaps once you do manage to get your heifer in-calf, as Louisa says, she'll probably come right. At 2 she is still young.

I've found that when I've added new cows to our herd, it can upset the statis-quo and some of the animals fail to conceive. Usually the new cows, but if your heifer is of a nervous disposition, perhaps its unsettling her? It takes a while for them to settle into the pecking order. They are very much creatures of habit.

Sue E · Post by **Sue E** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:44 am

Thanks Inger, its good to hear that other people have had problems. My heifer is not at all nervous and the problem with the bull was he would not serve her when she regularly came bulling so I cannot even say she did not hold as she was never covered. He had other cows with him which he bulled and also had the previous years calves on the ground. I did not expect great results from AI but may try again using the injection Duncan mentioned other than that I have been offered the use of another bull so if we can sort out the new TB ruling that would be my preferred option. She is still young and I feel it is worth trying every option.

Jo Kemp · Post by **Jo Kemp** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:54 pm

Different bulls have different timing re. conception and cows also have verying legths of time when their ova are open to fertilisation. In the winter, most cattle have shorter fertility so it would be easy for the two to miss! I have a bible by a vet called Blowey. It is written for dairy farmers but most info is general and he mentions that a cow can come into oestrus at night for only 6 hours so neither AI nor the bull will catch that!
I have a 32 month old heifer which didn't produce last year and I haven't seen the bull on her. Injected her last September so she should be carrying and I hope to have her scanned but she will have another year before we eat her. I will give her the Denis Brinicombe 'Quick Serve' bucket in case it is a mineral deficiency - I only came upon these buckets last year and the sheep ones are wonderful. We hardly ever have to deal with hoof problems and only have to trim the sheep feet once a year after lambing. Hope the cattle ones are as effective!
Jo