Post by lilbloom on Feb 20, 2009 10:27:48 GMT -5
Last night was so harried ,rushed and confusing I'm not sure I can even convey everything that happened. BUT, if you don't feel like reading it all just skip to bottom for my question.
I've had Sally a little over two months, she's two w/ 7mo heifer.
The first month she was here I never saw any signs other then a very tiny amount of discharge. There was also a big ice storm that week so loading, hauling and AIing was out of the question. Marked the the calendar (previous owner said she cycled every 21 days) Since I couldn't be exactly sure what day she was standing, I marked to watch a few days before and after the the 21 days.
The day before yesterday I saw tiny amount of discharge. The only thing I've ever seen on her is tiny like, a dirty 1" thread. No big globs such as the photos I've seen here. Same thing yesterday morning during milking. She seemed her normal self.
Then, around 3:00 I was out doing some chores and noticed she was acting a fool. Following me, bellowing, and running to the fence where her calf is and more extreme bellowing. I went to her and scratched her on the rear. She normally won't let me touch her in the pasture. I pushed on her rear and she walked away.
Was this heat??? I don't know!!! Sure seems like it. I don't know!!! Everything I've read here left my brain at that moment!!!
Do I sit, watch and wait? Are we going to AI her??? If we AI her we should probably do it NOW!!! I don't know!!! And I'm Usually calm under pressure! LOL
I went inside to debate with myself, then my husband for an hour. By this time it was 4:00 and my husband wisely told me if we were going to AI, I'd better decide soon. The AI facility closed at 5:00. Things went downhill from there.
Called and talked with receptionist. Told her I didn't know anything about AI/heat. Was given lots of options.... wasn't really in a frame of mind for options... I needed to be told what to do.lol
The plan she suggested was to bring her in (they would wait for me) check to see if she was in heat. If she looked good they would inseminate and I could bring her this morning and inseminate again (2nd at no charge) Using two straws each time. We said we'd be there by 5:30.
We rushed around like crazy, gathering kids, shutting down dinner, had to go pick up trailer, get a halter on Sally. She needed to be milked because it would be too dark by the time we got back, rush, rush, rush.
IMPORTANT DETAIL:
I asked DH as we were loading to grab some sunflower seeds to lure her into the trailer. I didn't realize how much (looked about 5 cups) he had in the bucket until he drop it into the trailer. TOO late! She jumped in and there was no way I was going to get the seeds back from her. She normally only gets 1 cup daily. This has me really worried.
We get to the facility and receptionist says, 'go to the back barn'. There was a truck there waiting and I asked the driver if he worked there. He said "no", but someone would be along shortly. We spent some time small talking and he said "it didn't look like Sally was in heat".
The next thing I know is the guy who said he doesn't work there has his arm inside my girl??? Turns out he's an AI instructor and was there teaching on some complicated cases. Once inside her he found lots goo, felt good and said we should go ahead and AI. BUT, everything he said was almost opposite of what we were told over the phone. He only used one straw and told us there was really no need for us to bring her back this morning.
I'm still confused, this morning Sally is extremely agitated, kicked at me the entire milking time. Her poop is loose and she passing and sucking air like I've never seen, plus passing lots of discharge. Is this from the AI or the sunflower seeds or heat? Should I be concerned?
At this point I don't care if she bred or not, I'm worried she's hurting from the seeds. What would you do?
I've had Sally a little over two months, she's two w/ 7mo heifer.
The first month she was here I never saw any signs other then a very tiny amount of discharge. There was also a big ice storm that week so loading, hauling and AIing was out of the question. Marked the the calendar (previous owner said she cycled every 21 days) Since I couldn't be exactly sure what day she was standing, I marked to watch a few days before and after the the 21 days.
The day before yesterday I saw tiny amount of discharge. The only thing I've ever seen on her is tiny like, a dirty 1" thread. No big globs such as the photos I've seen here. Same thing yesterday morning during milking. She seemed her normal self.
Then, around 3:00 I was out doing some chores and noticed she was acting a fool. Following me, bellowing, and running to the fence where her calf is and more extreme bellowing. I went to her and scratched her on the rear. She normally won't let me touch her in the pasture. I pushed on her rear and she walked away.
Was this heat??? I don't know!!! Sure seems like it. I don't know!!! Everything I've read here left my brain at that moment!!!
Do I sit, watch and wait? Are we going to AI her??? If we AI her we should probably do it NOW!!! I don't know!!! And I'm Usually calm under pressure! LOL
I went inside to debate with myself, then my husband for an hour. By this time it was 4:00 and my husband wisely told me if we were going to AI, I'd better decide soon. The AI facility closed at 5:00. Things went downhill from there.
Called and talked with receptionist. Told her I didn't know anything about AI/heat. Was given lots of options.... wasn't really in a frame of mind for options... I needed to be told what to do.lol
The plan she suggested was to bring her in (they would wait for me) check to see if she was in heat. If she looked good they would inseminate and I could bring her this morning and inseminate again (2nd at no charge) Using two straws each time. We said we'd be there by 5:30.
We rushed around like crazy, gathering kids, shutting down dinner, had to go pick up trailer, get a halter on Sally. She needed to be milked because it would be too dark by the time we got back, rush, rush, rush.
IMPORTANT DETAIL:
I asked DH as we were loading to grab some sunflower seeds to lure her into the trailer. I didn't realize how much (looked about 5 cups) he had in the bucket until he drop it into the trailer. TOO late! She jumped in and there was no way I was going to get the seeds back from her. She normally only gets 1 cup daily. This has me really worried.
We get to the facility and receptionist says, 'go to the back barn'. There was a truck there waiting and I asked the driver if he worked there. He said "no", but someone would be along shortly. We spent some time small talking and he said "it didn't look like Sally was in heat".
The next thing I know is the guy who said he doesn't work there has his arm inside my girl??? Turns out he's an AI instructor and was there teaching on some complicated cases. Once inside her he found lots goo, felt good and said we should go ahead and AI. BUT, everything he said was almost opposite of what we were told over the phone. He only used one straw and told us there was really no need for us to bring her back this morning.
I'm still confused, this morning Sally is extremely agitated, kicked at me the entire milking time. Her poop is loose and she passing and sucking air like I've never seen, plus passing lots of discharge. Is this from the AI or the sunflower seeds or heat? Should I be concerned?
At this point I don't care if she bred or not, I'm worried she's hurting from the seeds. What would you do?