Post by daisyhill on Jun 7, 2016 9:28:03 GMT -5
I've written about my problems with April before--her last calf was born in March of 2014, and we delayed breeding her back because of her bout with ketosis. After she was in good shape again, we delayed a few more months, wanting to schedule a calf when it would work out best for us. She was showing regular heats, and seemed to be in fine shape. Well, we tried three times with AI, and the third time we thought she had taken--then, after missing three heats, she was back in heat again. At the tech's suggestion, we took her to the vet to be palpated, and he did not find anything wrong--no cysts, nothing. He recommended that we give her a shot of Cystorelin the next time she came into heat, and re-breed. Now, I thought cystorelin was for treating cysts, so if she didn't have any, would it help? (Nice guy, our vet, kind and helpful, but he's usually in a hurry and I'm not sure I completely trust that he's heard everything I said, or wouldn't just "give me a bottle" to make me feel like I've done something.) Vet also said to give her the cystorelin when she was scheduled to be in heat, whether we saw signs or not. I talked to the tech, who said that they give cystorelin at the time of breeding. Now, as a professional AI tech, I know he breeds more cows than the vet, so I followed his advice. I did not give her the cystorelin at the time I thought she should be in heat, but waited to give it to her when the tech came.
She came into standing heat about four days late, and the tech ended up being out of state, so we had to wait until next time. Finally, on her next heat, the tech was able to come out. She had a vigorous, obvious, standing heat, going around all googly eyed, puffy vulva, mounting all the other cows and standing for the steer to mount her. The tech said she felt normal, and considering my description of her heat, doubted she needed the cystorelin, though he would do it if I wanted. I figured he knew what he was talking about, and skipped the cystorelin. She had been having regular, normal heats (like six of them in a row--I will kindly refrain from boring you to death with the all the reasons so many went by without getting her bred). I don't think she has cysts, unless they don't always cause irregular heats? (Also, shouldn't the vet have found them when he palpated her?)
The end of this tedious recital is that she is in heat again today, obnoxiously, loudly and obviously. I just don't know what to do. Should I try to have her bred again with the cystorelin? Or is it time to try and find a bull for her to visit? I really didn't want to dry her off until she was confirmed bred, but she has been in milk so long that we may have to.
She came into standing heat about four days late, and the tech ended up being out of state, so we had to wait until next time. Finally, on her next heat, the tech was able to come out. She had a vigorous, obvious, standing heat, going around all googly eyed, puffy vulva, mounting all the other cows and standing for the steer to mount her. The tech said she felt normal, and considering my description of her heat, doubted she needed the cystorelin, though he would do it if I wanted. I figured he knew what he was talking about, and skipped the cystorelin. She had been having regular, normal heats (like six of them in a row--I will kindly refrain from boring you to death with the all the reasons so many went by without getting her bred). I don't think she has cysts, unless they don't always cause irregular heats? (Also, shouldn't the vet have found them when he palpated her?)
The end of this tedious recital is that she is in heat again today, obnoxiously, loudly and obviously. I just don't know what to do. Should I try to have her bred again with the cystorelin? Or is it time to try and find a bull for her to visit? I really didn't want to dry her off until she was confirmed bred, but she has been in milk so long that we may have to.