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There were several concurrent issues, not just the failed AI re-breeding over two years -- each time in good, observable, standing heat, using different bulls but same AI tech. We wouldn't have access to a bull for another 6 months. Vet examined here and did not find a cyst. He could not lift...

OK, so we weighed the finished meat: Steaks, stew meat, a few soup bones (239 lb) and a lot of burger (436 lb). Total 675 lb, which is 51% return on hanging weight. I'm sure a LOT of fat had to be trimmed out, because T&R always gets the most out of every animal we bring in. We opened and...

Or hoof trimmer guy estimated 2,000 lbs. last time he was out. I was being conservative but I think you're right.

Right! The AI tech said she had a lot of internal fat. The butcher concurred -- lots of fat cover. That's why we are not selling it as quarters, it wouldn't be fair. I'll ask at pickup if they remember roughly how much fat got trimmed off.

I will! We bring it home next weekend. Hanging for 10 days.

So true!!! And if the steaks are as nice as hoped... I won't be so down in the "mouth," after all. ;o)

Update on the failed AI British White cow: After contemplating everything (we couldn't get her to the bull 'til June, she gained weight on air, huge, 2 years of failed AI, the vet couldn't even lift her uterus when he checked her), we decided to finally cut our losses. We sent her to the butcher...

Thanks -- I hate to blame the cow if it's not her!

Yes, I know all about cycles. Like I said in another post, the delay was largely due to two things: Thinking she had taken (no heat symptoms each cycle), therefore delayed test, then the test showed open; then more significantly, more delays with the straws for the preferred bull (lots of hassle...

LOL! Thanks. :0) We are hoping we can take her to our friend's Bull Spa -- lose weight, get action.

Right, we acknowledge we made a lot of mistakes. First test was a milk test, done on time. We also had our AI guy come out and do checks. I didn't mention one of the major problems was getting the sperm we wanted to use again. There was a lot of hassle, delay, and ultimately extra expense...

Initially it was to raise beef calves AND provide extra milk for bottle calves. She's milk-stand trained but the farm did not have xtra funds for a milk machine at the time of her first calving. We do now, but a bit too late.

Hmmm very interesting. We've had great luck with bottle calves, especially when we milked goats and fed them goat milk verus powder. (We've since sold the high maintenance goats). We're thinking we might just get a dairy type cow for the milk; they don't fatten up as easily as the BWs and we'd...

Right, this feels like a screwup on our end and she's getting the hammer for it. :( But I have to stop the losses at some point. A wise farmer told me once that mistakes are just life's "tuition."

She had her first calf August 2020. First AI was Dec. 17, 2020. Second AI was Sept 24, 2021. Third AI was March 15, 2022. I asked my DH to blood test her months ago but wasn't done. Unfortunately lots of opportunity to just gain weight.

Unfortunately a blood test was never taken. By the time we got it back she'd be at, or past, her due date anyway. Her not bagging up 5 days before due date -- that is a telltale sign nothing's happening. Vet thought maybe the internal fat was preventing him from lifting up on the uterus.

She wouldn't primarily be a milker, but as 1/2 Holstein I had hoped to milk her for bottle calves or have her as a nurse cow.

We're on our third failed AI on our huge Holstein x British White (now 4.5 years old) that took perfectly her first time, birthed at 95-lb. robust calf unassisted with zero problems, and was the perfect mother. Then began 2 frustrating years of trying to breed her back. I know now we made...

Thank you both. Hopefully it will heal. M–5, can you clarify "Benign neglect?"

I believe our 3 bottle calves (4 & 5 weeks old) are past the ear sucking stage, and we took steps to stop it with vinegar spray, but the sucking has apparently caused damage to the heifer's ears (she didn't object to the sucking and just let them do it at first). The outer edges of her ears are...