Post by brightraven on Jan 8, 2020 7:20:00 GMT -6
This is my best AI year.
I breed on natural heats. I do not employ a cleanup bull.
I still have a late calver to AI. I have bred 24 cows/heifers on 27 service attempts. That is the best results I have had in the last five years.
I think a major factor has been heat detection. I put a lot of effort into that. It's interesting that I was more flexible with timing my AI. In the past, I was diligent in breeding at 8 to 10 hours after the onset of standing estrus even if it meant getting the cow/heifer in the chute at midnight. The sperm is viable for 24 to 34 hours. You dont have to go to extremes to get the ovum covered.
Five of the 24 that have passed over at least one cycle without coming in, are heifers that are sold. The arrangement is that I breed them AI to a bull that I select. After they are 60 days bred, the buyer takes possession.
I breed on natural heats. I do not employ a cleanup bull.
I still have a late calver to AI. I have bred 24 cows/heifers on 27 service attempts. That is the best results I have had in the last five years.
I think a major factor has been heat detection. I put a lot of effort into that. It's interesting that I was more flexible with timing my AI. In the past, I was diligent in breeding at 8 to 10 hours after the onset of standing estrus even if it meant getting the cow/heifer in the chute at midnight. The sperm is viable for 24 to 34 hours. You dont have to go to extremes to get the ovum covered.
Five of the 24 that have passed over at least one cycle without coming in, are heifers that are sold. The arrangement is that I breed them AI to a bull that I select. After they are 60 days bred, the buyer takes possession.