Post by KendraM on Nov 7, 2018 8:49:25 GMT -5
I need the hive mind to help me!
I've got Ladybug, my 4 year old midsize mini jersey cow. She's had two calves so far, both live cover by a mini bull by her former owners. This is our first attempt to get her bred.
I bought 5 straws of grass fed New Zealand genetics to breed her to. She calved one year ago and has been feeding the heifer calf since. She calved in November, so I was waiting to get her rebred to calve in the Spring. We attempted AI for a May calving, but that didn't take. Now we're shooting for an early fall calving, so we got her AI'd on Sunday.
She is so hard to tell when to AI. I never see her standing for the heifer to mount, but i can tell she's in heat, just not a what point. So the AI tech said he could only be here Sunday morning and so I thought let's give it a shot.
She was just laying down in the pasture and he said, "Sure doesn't look like she's in heat." I said, "I know! She never does." But when she stood up she had a string of mucous hanging down, so that gave me at least a little reason to try it.
We used two straws this time, in case there's an issue with the semen. And we'll do the milk test to check for pregnancy in 28 days. I'm not too hopeful.
I didn't synch because I'm a little unsure of when to start the synching protocol. But I was gleaning a little big of understanding from what kim 'scows does, when she starts synching for cycle 2 at the end of cycle 1.
So I've got the cow to breed and now the heifer. She's my portly little mini jersey heifer. Lot's of nice condition to get her through winter. My AI guy saw her and said she's ready to breed. She's 12 months old this month.
Mini-Jersey semen is pretty expensive, so I was seeing what I could find locally, if someone had a mini bull to lease. I found someone with a mini bull an hour away, but he wants me to bring my cow and heifer there. Which I'm a little nervous to do, because the cow is still in milk. This month I planned on weaning the heifer, but if I'm going to be taking them there to be bred, it would be better if the heifer could keep the cow milked out. He's willing to disease test, and transport my girl to his farm for just the cost of the vet fee. So that's the most economical route for sure. I'm just really nervous about having my cows at another farm for two months.
Then there is a farm three hours away with a mini bull calf for sale. He was born end of June this year, so he's not yet five months old. They're flexible on the price, so I thought he may be a good option to pick up now. Even if he can't breed anyone yet, he could do the job nine months from now. So any mini bull owners, please feel free to pitch in with your experience. I've heard that they're better tempered than a large jersey bull and the goal would be to use him and see (or process) before he hits that three year mark.
Or finally I could just buy the mini semen and if the cow doesn't take again on her natural heat, synch her and use mini-semen on her. And then catch the heifer on a natural heat (the heifer is very easy to tell!)
Hopefully we'll get both of them bred for a fall calf. So let me hear your opinions and preferences and any other advice you've got for me.
Everyday I change my mind about what to do and I have to make the decision soon! Thanks everyone!
I've got Ladybug, my 4 year old midsize mini jersey cow. She's had two calves so far, both live cover by a mini bull by her former owners. This is our first attempt to get her bred.
I bought 5 straws of grass fed New Zealand genetics to breed her to. She calved one year ago and has been feeding the heifer calf since. She calved in November, so I was waiting to get her rebred to calve in the Spring. We attempted AI for a May calving, but that didn't take. Now we're shooting for an early fall calving, so we got her AI'd on Sunday.
She is so hard to tell when to AI. I never see her standing for the heifer to mount, but i can tell she's in heat, just not a what point. So the AI tech said he could only be here Sunday morning and so I thought let's give it a shot.
She was just laying down in the pasture and he said, "Sure doesn't look like she's in heat." I said, "I know! She never does." But when she stood up she had a string of mucous hanging down, so that gave me at least a little reason to try it.
We used two straws this time, in case there's an issue with the semen. And we'll do the milk test to check for pregnancy in 28 days. I'm not too hopeful.
I didn't synch because I'm a little unsure of when to start the synching protocol. But I was gleaning a little big of understanding from what kim 'scows does, when she starts synching for cycle 2 at the end of cycle 1.
So I've got the cow to breed and now the heifer. She's my portly little mini jersey heifer. Lot's of nice condition to get her through winter. My AI guy saw her and said she's ready to breed. She's 12 months old this month.
Mini-Jersey semen is pretty expensive, so I was seeing what I could find locally, if someone had a mini bull to lease. I found someone with a mini bull an hour away, but he wants me to bring my cow and heifer there. Which I'm a little nervous to do, because the cow is still in milk. This month I planned on weaning the heifer, but if I'm going to be taking them there to be bred, it would be better if the heifer could keep the cow milked out. He's willing to disease test, and transport my girl to his farm for just the cost of the vet fee. So that's the most economical route for sure. I'm just really nervous about having my cows at another farm for two months.
Then there is a farm three hours away with a mini bull calf for sale. He was born end of June this year, so he's not yet five months old. They're flexible on the price, so I thought he may be a good option to pick up now. Even if he can't breed anyone yet, he could do the job nine months from now. So any mini bull owners, please feel free to pitch in with your experience. I've heard that they're better tempered than a large jersey bull and the goal would be to use him and see (or process) before he hits that three year mark.
Or finally I could just buy the mini semen and if the cow doesn't take again on her natural heat, synch her and use mini-semen on her. And then catch the heifer on a natural heat (the heifer is very easy to tell!)
Hopefully we'll get both of them bred for a fall calf. So let me hear your opinions and preferences and any other advice you've got for me.
Everyday I change my mind about what to do and I have to make the decision soon! Thanks everyone!