A I Tips

[beefmasters]

Sorry to have to ask for help but i need all i can get. :help: I took an ai course about twenty years ago and never did anything with it.I had intended to purchase a tank and start doing my own cattle at the time.However,soon after i got divorced,lost some of the land i was leasing and had to sell part of my cattle. :roll:
Anyway,i have purchased a tank and trying to ai a few select head of the herd i now have.I read all my old materials and most of what i can find on the web to review everything.But on the first one i tried it was like i had entered a foreign land and didn't know where to go. :lol: Although i have no proof i believe i may now have the world record on how long you can stand behind a cow.By the time it was over both myself and the cow were exhausted-she looked at me with severe animosity for several days afterwards.
However,i did get thru the cervix successfully so maybe she will stick. :clap:
I apoligize for being so long winded and will get to my problem.I am having a really tough time in getting ahold of the cervix itself.The few i have done are older cows and their cervix feels as big as a softball.Everytime i get a hold of it the cow has a anal contraction and i lose it plus even when i get on it i have a real problem manipulating it.Is there a certain way to grab it so it will be easier ? I don't have the biggest hands in the world but i know women ai and surely their hands are not bigger than mine so their must be some technique i am missing.
Also i think maybe i am not getting the anal cavity as relaxed as i should because i never seem to have enough elasticity in reaching for the cervix.

If you have hung with me this far i appreciate any advise you may have. :D

 

[GACow]

I to find it hard to get ahold of some of the older cows cervix sometimes. What i have found that helps me alot is when you get ahold of it if you can push it against the pelvic wall to help keep it from moving around so much while you manipulate it. Also It will get easier with practice!! You might want to check with any semen companies near by or your extention agent about any upcoming AI clinics because i know here if you have already taken the class they will let you come and practice for little to no cost $$. Hope this helps a little!!!! :D :D

 

[KNERSIE]

Also i think maybe i am not getting the anal cavity as relaxed as i should because i never seem to have enough elasticity in reaching for the cervix.

If you stimulate the clitorus, the cow usually have a few contractions and relaxes after that for long enough to get hold of it.

I'm sure I have you beat on the longest time behind a cow and she stuck to boot!

 

[beefmasters]

GaCow and Knersie,

I appreciate the advise as your ideas are something i had not thought of.The idea to go back for re-training is a good one.I trained with COBA and they did tell us we could come back for refresher course for free.I don't know if they meant for this long or not. :) I looked on their web site and all i saw on training for the spring was in Pa or Ohio and i am only about 18 miles to the Texas line.

If anybody else has any ideas i would appreciate it even if it is something you consider simple ! I am pretty simple minded. :lol:

By the way, i showed that first cow i said i AI'd my AI certificate but she did'nt seem very impressed and by the time i was done neither was I. :lol:

 

[cow pollinater]

I promise... You didn't set any time records. ;-)
Beef cows are really hard for some people to breed. I know of a few pros that will dig around in there like it's a whole new world for a minute before they get it figured out. There's lots of room and everything is kind of sloppy.
Try breeding your heifers next year a week or two before you do the cows. They should tone up better and the smaller scale makes things easier for some people. That way you get some muscle memory before you go to the big girls. :nod:
The only real solution is practice.

 

[dun]

I had been doing AI for probalby 25 years then quit for about 8-9 years. First cow I reached into I wondered if they had changed the stuff in there cause nothing felt familiar. The next day I did another and the light went on and it was everything normal.
I don;t know how curretn this is but I got it from the Coba site for Tyler tx

New Spring AI Training ... Tyler, Texas 75704. Toll Free 1-800-828-7883

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

Just keep trying. Put a little baby powder in you glove, seems to help me keep my glove on. Bovine Elite down to College Station does some classes don't no what it would cost.

 

[beefmasters]

Sorry, I have been away from the computer for a while.I sincerely appreciate you folks for trying to help me and the encouragement.

I did one this morning that pushed so hard back against me that she had her whole tract pushed back as far as it would go towards me.Weird!!! I did what Knersie said to try and it did seem to help.

Again,i appreciate the help and hope to return the favor someday. :tiphat:

 

[novaman]

I've heard some guys will grab a stress ball and squeeze on that with the hand that grasps the cervix. They claim it helps tone up the muscles and builds strength. I've always wanted to try it but never think of it until I'm in the cow struggling to hang on.

 

[pdfangus]

same way you get to Carneige Hall......
practice, practice, practice

Frankly I cannot imagine going 20 years between training and implementation.

Bravo....

 

[KNERSIE]

same way you get to Carneige Hall......
practice, practice, practice

Frankly I cannot imagine going 20 years between training and implementation.

Bravo....

My dad last AI'd when he still had the dairy and he sold out in 1991, in 2008 I had the Guilaine Barre and was out of action in breeding season. The vet synched and AI'd the bulk, but two heifers came in the next day, dad AI'd both and both stuck after a hiatus of 17 years.