I can't catch my cows heat cycle at the right time

[Sarahlallen]

I had my cow AI'd las month with the series of shots to force her into heat. 21 days later, she started sniffing around, & bawling. She only did mild bawling for 2 days, & on the 3rd day she sounded like she was having a calf, she was bawling so forcefully! I was nervous to be around her because she sounded so intimidating.. So I called the AI tech, & he came out to check her and re-incriminate her if needed. He determined that she wasn't in heat anymore and that we've missed it. $250 later, I'm discouraged and totally lost as to when I should try next. Apparently I can't figure out at what point in 3-4 days of bawling (intensity growing every day) is the right time to inseminate. Ive seen the charts on how to detect and when to breed.. I think I must have a unique cow? She's a brown Swiss. Any ideas? Has this happened to any of you?

[inyati13]

I do not have enough experience with AI to give you advice, but I do spend almost all my time around my cows and the behavior of cows in heat is extremely diverse and interesting. I had one cow about two months ago that I thought had gone crazy. She would run from one end of the 80 acre farm to the other only to turn around and do it again. Her poor calf was going with her the whole time and its tongue was hanging out gasping for breath. She was in heat and at the time I was between bulls. Other cows I call stealth heaters. You can hardly recognize a change in their behavior. This is one of the reasons, I like a bull with a cow I know is about to come in. I have a small herd and in my opinion when one is doing AI on a small scale, it is not worth it. If you have trouble with two cows in a 10 cow head, you are losing 20 % production. A live bull on 10 cows with a little management, is dang near perfect from my experience. Now if you have one cow, then it may not be worth owning a bull.

[novatech]

It sounds as if you have the cow by herself. If this is the case you will continue to have a herd time.
The cow needs to be with other cows, bull calves, gomer bull, have a patch on her or any other more natural way of determining heat.
It is the rare individual, if any, that will accurately determine heat without it.

[inyati13]

It sounds as if you have the cow by herself. If this is the case you will continue to have a herd time.
The cow needs to be with other cows, bull calves, gomer bull, have a patch on her or any other more natural way of determining heat.
It is the rare individual, if any, that will accurately determine heat without it.

Describe the patch and how it works. Thanks.

[dun]

It sounds as if you have the cow by herself. If this is the case you will continue to have a herd time.
The cow needs to be with other cows, bull calves, gomer bull, have a patch on her or any other more natural way of determining heat.
It is the rare individual, if any, that will accurately determine heat without it.

Describe the patch and how it works. Thanks.

This will splain it:

http://estrotect.com/

[cow pollinater]

Since you already know that she's open you can save a few days gain accuracy in timing by re-enrolling her in the sync shots. Just wait nine days since she was determined to be in heat and then give her the lut shot followed by the gnrh two days later and then breed her. If she starts to come in in twenty one days, give her the gnrh and breed her as soon as you see her bellering. That way you eliminate the gueswork.

[bigbluegrass]

Why not just do a fixed time AI? Give her a GnRH and put a CIDR in. Wait 7 days, pull it and PG or lute her. Breed her 60 hours later. She will come in heat around 48 to 54 hours after the last shot and you can then observe what she looks like in heat. You can schedule it with your AI guy. You don't have to watch her as close the whole time. The success rate is still not 100% - but then again neither is a bull. I think it would take a lot of the guesswork out until you know your cow better. At least that is what I would try if I couldn't catch a cow in heat.

[Sarahlallen]

That's what I did last month, & she came into heat 21 days later. The series of shots and 3 visits cost me $165. I don't want to spend that every month and have it not work again and again. A friend suggested that I AI her 12 hrs. after the first qestionable sign, & then 12 hrs. after that to make sure. That would would still be quite a bit cheaper.

[cow pollinater]

Were you paying someone to give come out and give her the shots? How much are you paying for medicine? It should be pretty cheap to give her the shot's yourself and is actually a really good investment when you consider the faster you get her bred back the faster the calf gets born and growing.
If nothing else, just a single gnrh shot and insemenation at the first signs of estrus will save you a ton of hassle with timing insemenation. You don't have to worry about when she ovulated because you did it for her.

[pdfangus]

listen to cow pollinator.....
he is giving you good advice.....
if the cow is a brown swiss I assume you want her bred back to a dairy bull.....
You do not want a dairy bull roaming around your place.
Also lactating dairy cattle are more difficult to settle than lactating beef cattle but if she is showing heat she is at least cycling now.

the synchrony treatment may have jump started her to cycling. try again as CP as described.

[Sarahlallen]

Cow pollinator- are you saying that I can wait until I see any signs of heat, call the AI tech as soon as I have any sign, & he can give her a shot at that point and AI her? Will the shot make her ovulate immediately if she's already showing first signs of heat?

[cow pollinater]

Yep. I'd wait until you're sure that she is coming in and then give her the gnrh and breed her.

[Sarahlallen]

Cow pollinator- The shot speeds up her ovulation if she is already coming into heat? Thank for your words of wisdom..

[ohiosteve]

I do not have enough experience with AI to give you advice, but I do spend almost all my time around my cows and the behavior of cows in heat is extremely diverse and interesting. I had one cow about two months ago that I thought had gone crazy. She would run from one end of the 80 acre farm to the other only to turn around and do it again. Her poor calf was going with her the whole time and its tongue was hanging out gasping for breath. She was in heat and at the time I was between bulls. Other cows I call stealth heaters. You can hardly recognize a change in their behavior. This is one of the reasons, I like a bull with a cow I know is about to come in. I have a small herd and in my opinion when one is doing AI on a small scale, it is not worth it. If you have trouble with two cows in a 10 cow head, you are losing 20 % production. A live bull on 10 cows with a little management, is dang near perfect from my experience. Now if you have one cow, then it may not be worth owning a bull.

Inyati, I COMPLETELY agree with you on the 10 cows and 1 bull with a little management. That's where I'm at now and have been thinking of getting bigger, but recently have decided to stay at 10 mama's . I'm not overwhelmed and have just enough to turn some profit and enjoy myself and teach my daughter about cows. No need to reply but thought I'd let you know I enjoy and have learned from your posts.
Best of luck with your cattle! Steve.

[inyati13]

I do not have enough experience with AI to give you advice, but I do spend almost all my time around my cows and the behavior of cows in heat is extremely diverse and interesting. I had one cow about two months ago that I thought had gone crazy. She would run from one end of the 80 acre farm to the other only to turn around and do it again. Her poor calf was going with her the whole time and its tongue was hanging out gasping for breath. She was in heat and at the time I was between bulls. Other cows I call stealth heaters. You can hardly recognize a change in their behavior. This is one of the reasons, I like a bull with a cow I know is about to come in. I have a small herd and in my opinion when one is doing AI on a small scale, it is not worth it. If you have trouble with two cows in a 10 cow head, you are losing 20 % production. A live bull on 10 cows with a little management, is dang near perfect from my experience. Now if you have one cow, then it may not be worth owning a bull.

Inyati, I COMPLETELY agree with you on the 10 cows and 1 bull with a little management. That's where I'm at now and have been thinking of getting bigger, but recently have decided to stay at 10 mama's . I'm not overwhelmed and have just enough to turn some profit and enjoy myself and teach my daughter about cows. No need to reply but thought I'd let you know I enjoy and have learned from your posts.
Best of luck with your cattle! Steve.

Steve. I am honored as there are many on here who have forgotten more than I know, but I do get the most milage I can out of what I have learned. Thanks, your comment is rewarding.