Post Oak
Well-known member
Could it be possible to run a 12 to 15 head cow herd 100% AI without a bull?
A hypothetical question about AI
- Thread starter Post Oak
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Yes as long as you have a handy technician and time to dedicate to heat detection. We ran 30 some odd head at the home place and didn;t have a bull there ever. The canyon cows had multiple bulls, but I did all of our AI myself at home. That would have been from 1980 until about 5 years ago when we were running 75 head.
I don't see why not, your calving season will be longer. I hit about 60% settled when I AI. So if you AI 15 cows, if my math is right you hope to settle at least 8 or 9 head, leaving you 7or 8 head. Run those though and hop to settle 4or5, leaving you 3 or 4...... and so on. This first time through is using synch technique. The next year your AI will be stretch out between cows.
Post Oak
Well-known member
I was considering going to AI school next year and getting an AI tech to help me my first time. I could blood test preg check with Biopryn 30 days after AI, and then hit them again if they are not pregnant. It seems like you can get a whole lot better bull for the buck when you are small like me.
A good AI school is some of the best money you can spend on cows. Besides the obvious learning to AI and the requisit additional stuff you learn. It will also make you a more observant herdsman.Post Oak":zwgor4ue said:
Fire Sweep Ranch
Well-known member
We currently have about 25 cows and several yearling heifers, and we strictly AI (been doing it for 8 years now). It can be done, and if the cattle are near you, you will not need to use the biopryn because the open ones will cycle back by 21 days usually. I would suggest a good mineral program (Vitaferm Conceptaide is the best in my opinion), and working on natural heats, you should have a better conception rate that way.
I have AI'd cattle for 25 years at least, but we sent hubby to AI school about 7 years ago and the oldest daughter went when she was 13ish. She is now 18, in college, and a Select Sires rep selling semen and breeding cows while attending. Our almost 13 year old daughter at home will go to school this spring, so she can help with the AI. What I am trying to say is that YOU will be better at breeding your cows than anyone else, since you know the cows the best. It might now be cheap to begin with (class, tank,supplies), but if you stick with it it will pay for itself in the years to come. :tiphat:
I have AI'd cattle for 25 years at least, but we sent hubby to AI school about 7 years ago and the oldest daughter went when she was 13ish. She is now 18, in college, and a Select Sires rep selling semen and breeding cows while attending. Our almost 13 year old daughter at home will go to school this spring, so she can help with the AI. What I am trying to say is that YOU will be better at breeding your cows than anyone else, since you know the cows the best. It might now be cheap to begin with (class, tank,supplies), but if you stick with it it will pay for itself in the years to come. :tiphat:
Post Oak
Well-known member
Thanks everyone for the replies and advice. Hopefully I will move back to my farm within the next year and I might could move toward with my AI ambitions.
For years I have synced all my cows, AI'd them all at once then used a good clean up bull. I know it's not really what you are asking but my point is after a few years I have some really nice cows/heifers (10 to 20 times nicer than what I stared with) and always a nice clean up bull from AI. I just cycle the clean up bull from AI as needed due to inbreeding concerns. Oh I mean inline breeding. :D
inyati13
Well-known member
Post Oak:
There are 16 cows/heifers in the herd. About 4 are heifers that I have AIed and will have their first calves in 2015. I have a bull for use on the non-registered cows (now only 4 in that category). One of the heifers this winter breeding season seems to have a deformed cervix. I tried twice during two cycles and I knew I was not getting her bred because the AI gun was not going through the cervix. I turned her out to the bull and watched him breed her. Then to my disgust, I observed her back in heat. Fire Sweep Simmental Ranch (Kris) has pointed out that she may have a reproductive problem. She is certainly not a freemartin because she is a single birth heifer (unless as dun pointed out in the freemartin thread, the other twin dissolved or aborted).
I do my AI on observed heat. I have completed two years in March of AI. I took a class offered by Select Sires. You can certainly breed your cows via AI but you will need time to be with them if you do it on natural heats.
There are going to be circumstances where you might need a bull. I do not need a bull enough to justify the cost. They also require separate management.
There are 16 cows/heifers in the herd. About 4 are heifers that I have AIed and will have their first calves in 2015. I have a bull for use on the non-registered cows (now only 4 in that category). One of the heifers this winter breeding season seems to have a deformed cervix. I tried twice during two cycles and I knew I was not getting her bred because the AI gun was not going through the cervix. I turned her out to the bull and watched him breed her. Then to my disgust, I observed her back in heat. Fire Sweep Simmental Ranch (Kris) has pointed out that she may have a reproductive problem. She is certainly not a freemartin because she is a single birth heifer (unless as dun pointed out in the freemartin thread, the other twin dissolved or aborted).
I do my AI on observed heat. I have completed two years in March of AI. I took a class offered by Select Sires. You can certainly breed your cows via AI but you will need time to be with them if you do it on natural heats.
There are going to be circumstances where you might need a bull. I do not need a bull enough to justify the cost. They also require separate management.
