Vicki,
It would be useful to use a bulling beacon (Kamar or some other type) if you aren't already. Don't wait until you think she should be due. Put the heatmount on ASAP and check at least twice daily, more if possible, and observe. The heatmount will tell you a lot more than the back end, so long as one heifer can convince the other one to mount her at onset of standing heat. Some are very discreet. A steer could be good investment if you only have two females. Margaret
bulling
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wagra dexters
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Graham Beever & Margaret Weir
http://www.wagra-dexter.com.au/
http://www.wagra-dexter.com.au/
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wagra dexters
- Posts: 591
- Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:49 am
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Vicki,
Do you know, then, that timing is important with AI?
The DPI AI course notes say 16-20 hours from onset of standing heat, my insemimeter notes say 7-17 hours, a couple of our earlier, more experience members say 21 hours, and in some old notes from an American bulletin, Sandy Thomas says 24 hours. Friends with great numbers of stock, and years of experience, right back to early AI days (Murray Grey folk), say they have greatest success at 21 hours, and 5% better results since they have been warming the guns!
So, dont panic if your AI tech does not drop everything and rush over, because if I AI a cow and find that she is still standing, I can usually say goodbye to that straw. Exceptions, I did a heifer this season at 19 hours, she went on standing until 24 hours, but she has taken OK. Try DPI for the course book. Even if you don't do your own, it is better to know what it is about.
Two little boys have just gone to the abs for house meat, so disappointed that I could not run them on, but at this rate we could have to get a semi load of water as the river is a mud-bath. They only weighed what they should have dressed out at, given another year in the paddock.
Margaret.
Do you know, then, that timing is important with AI?
The DPI AI course notes say 16-20 hours from onset of standing heat, my insemimeter notes say 7-17 hours, a couple of our earlier, more experience members say 21 hours, and in some old notes from an American bulletin, Sandy Thomas says 24 hours. Friends with great numbers of stock, and years of experience, right back to early AI days (Murray Grey folk), say they have greatest success at 21 hours, and 5% better results since they have been warming the guns!
So, dont panic if your AI tech does not drop everything and rush over, because if I AI a cow and find that she is still standing, I can usually say goodbye to that straw. Exceptions, I did a heifer this season at 19 hours, she went on standing until 24 hours, but she has taken OK. Try DPI for the course book. Even if you don't do your own, it is better to know what it is about.
Two little boys have just gone to the abs for house meat, so disappointed that I could not run them on, but at this rate we could have to get a semi load of water as the river is a mud-bath. They only weighed what they should have dressed out at, given another year in the paddock.
Margaret.
Graham Beever & Margaret Weir
http://www.wagra-dexter.com.au/
http://www.wagra-dexter.com.au/
You mention you need a crush - I use gates and cattle gates as crushes. Much cheaper and easy to install everywhere they are needed. A narrow cattle hurdle (3 ft wide) attached to a full side cattle hurdle with a third hurdle swinging on the other side of the narrow one. You can buy a 'door' hurdle which does mean you can release the animal forwards instead of swinging the side hurdlw away. Does any of that make sense? I'm recovering from flu and I think my brain is still affected!
It is a cheaper option than a crush and more versatile.
Good luck with the AI. One can get to know the cycles etc of cows more easily than heifers. For preference I use a bull with heifers and AI afterwards but this is not always possible.
It is a cheaper option than a crush and more versatile.
Good luck with the AI. One can get to know the cycles etc of cows more easily than heifers. For preference I use a bull with heifers and AI afterwards but this is not always possible.
Hi Jo,
Thanks for the ideas on a crush, all ideas always welcome.
We're still sorting where/how etc so will look at this as well.
Luck for us we are now able to get a good bull for a few months to run with the new heifers and this one that has given so much angst.
The breeder said the same as you that AI and heifers is sometimes not so easy but to run them with a bull could be the way to go.
Now my husband is clearing the boundry fence of lantana to install electric fencing. The last thing we want is a bull going from this property to the surrounding ones.
So it seems things are working out in a different but easier way for many things.
Thank you so much Margaret and Jo.
Kind regards
Vicki
Thanks for the ideas on a crush, all ideas always welcome.
We're still sorting where/how etc so will look at this as well.
Luck for us we are now able to get a good bull for a few months to run with the new heifers and this one that has given so much angst.
The breeder said the same as you that AI and heifers is sometimes not so easy but to run them with a bull could be the way to go.
Now my husband is clearing the boundry fence of lantana to install electric fencing. The last thing we want is a bull going from this property to the surrounding ones.
So it seems things are working out in a different but easier way for many things.
Thank you so much Margaret and Jo.
Kind regards
Vicki