Bright Raven
Well-known member
A User who has lurked on these boards sent me a PM this morning. The User has never made a post. They ask if I could give them advice on breeding 10 to 20 commercial cows 100 % AI. I thought I would share the information:
Short answer is yes. You can breed 10 to 20 cows AI without a cleanup bull, but that is predicated on the following:
1. You must have good AI skills. Or you have an excellent AI technician who can give you personal service in a prompt and conscientious manner. In my experience, you cannot find an AI technician who can give you the services you need on a time table to be successful in a 100 % AI program. If you are just starting to learn AI, then until you pick up the skill, you will need a bull. Perhaps you can lease a bull for 60 days.
2. 100 % AI takes a lot of your time! Especially if you breed on natural observed heats.
3. Heat detection is paramount. Start logging each cows estrus cycle about 3 months in advance of breeding. That way, when you see a couple cows involved in jumping, you know which one is in heat if she is due to come into heat.
4. Get a good breeding calendar and keep notes on heats on it.
5. For 100 % AI, your cow has to cooperate. She must be fertile. To help her, they have to be on good mineral and getting the necessary nutrition.
6. Learn a cow's anatomy and reproductive physiology.
7. Practice!
Everyone is not good at AI. My SS instructor says very few who take his class stick with it. And almost none try to go it without a cleanup bull. I would suggest that you take an AI course. Start building your herd and practice AI until you demonstrate that you can get at least a 70 % conception rate on first service.
Until then, have a technician come in and breed them using a TAI (timed AI) protocol.
You also must be motivated. You must have time.
Good luck to all.
Short answer is yes. You can breed 10 to 20 cows AI without a cleanup bull, but that is predicated on the following:
1. You must have good AI skills. Or you have an excellent AI technician who can give you personal service in a prompt and conscientious manner. In my experience, you cannot find an AI technician who can give you the services you need on a time table to be successful in a 100 % AI program. If you are just starting to learn AI, then until you pick up the skill, you will need a bull. Perhaps you can lease a bull for 60 days.
2. 100 % AI takes a lot of your time! Especially if you breed on natural observed heats.
3. Heat detection is paramount. Start logging each cows estrus cycle about 3 months in advance of breeding. That way, when you see a couple cows involved in jumping, you know which one is in heat if she is due to come into heat.
4. Get a good breeding calendar and keep notes on heats on it.
5. For 100 % AI, your cow has to cooperate. She must be fertile. To help her, they have to be on good mineral and getting the necessary nutrition.
6. Learn a cow's anatomy and reproductive physiology.
7. Practice!
Everyone is not good at AI. My SS instructor says very few who take his class stick with it. And almost none try to go it without a cleanup bull. I would suggest that you take an AI course. Start building your herd and practice AI until you demonstrate that you can get at least a 70 % conception rate on first service.
Until then, have a technician come in and breed them using a TAI (timed AI) protocol.
You also must be motivated. You must have time.
Good luck to all.