chevytaHOE5674
Well-known member
I shoot for a 45 day calving window. So I pull bulls after 45 days, then wait the required 28 days and draw blood.
AI and Preg Checking Your Own Cattle
- Thread starter Twisted
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SDgrampa
Well-known member
TC is this your token red head?
bird dog
Well-known member
Yes blood tests are a little more accurate the further along they are. They will sometimes test preg when they aren't if they aborted recently. A good technician will look at anything suspicious and recommend a retest in a month or so. I use Cattle Stats in OKC. The tech is good and will answer questions if you have any.
wbvs58
Well-known member
Just back to the original question on manual testing, it is easier to give a +ve result than a -ve. If you go in at 4 mths and start bouncing a calf in there you are done and dusted. If you can't find that then you have to go back and find the uterine horns and carefully palpate those for any early pregnancy and often there will be a lot of doubt in the mind of an inexperienced operator. That is where the inaccuracy comes into it.
Ken
Ken
That's true. But I monitor all activity as soon as I turn the bulls out & keep diligent records. If there's any question, I monitor her behavior. Is she getting hunched by cows or steers after I pull the bulls? Or is she walking the fence across from the bulls pasture - with them directly on the other side, looking pitiful? And when in doubt, I will have her legit preg checked when we wean. That said, there's been a number of times a cow was preg checked bred, and I still had my doubts until I saw the rugrat on the right. False heats? Nothing cystic was noticed.
Yes, she is! Compliments of the neighbors bull. Bless her heart, you can spot her a mile away. She just turned 13 and due with her 12th calf in a couple weeks.
TexasJerseyMilker
Well-known member
I used this urine preg test
www.emlabgenetics.com
It's easy, just rub them below their tweedle and they pee like a race horse. You dip a stick into the urine, read the results in 10 minutes. Cost $4.50 a test.
Cattle Urine Pregnancy Test | EMLAB Genetics | United States
Needing to see whether a cow is pregnant? Diagnose pregnancy 60 days post breeding with 92% reliability with P-TEST (LIVESTOCK) and a urine sample.
SBMF 2015
Well-known member
I had the beef science college students out last week. They learned how to pelvic measure and freeze brand replacement hfrs.
Then I let them palpate some of my spring bred cows. Most of those cows are 8 months bred. The expression on the students faces when they grabbed a foot or a head for the first time was priceless.
Then I let them palpate some of my spring bred cows. Most of those cows are 8 months bred. The expression on the students faces when they grabbed a foot or a head for the first time was priceless.
farmerjan
Well-known member
I learned to AI 40 yrs ago from an AI tech, who bred for select sires... he wanted an occasional relief tech, and I was far out of his normal area that he didn't want to have to come all the way out there for just one "family cow".... so taught me. He would have me work at least 1 day every couple weeks... and we had a big area and lots of dairy farms back then Then I took a refresher course SS offered...and when he had a mild heart attack, and was out for 3 months, I did his calls for that time...
Have not done much AI the last 8 years due to the joint problems.... but hope to do some this year. I will sometimes go in and do a preg check on animals that we thought were bred or were due soon.... I can feel one after about 5 months but just do not have the touch for shorter bred... We get the vet out to do the groups since he is fast and more accurate... uses Ultrasound... there was a vet that used to do alot of the dairies... palpation.... and he could get within a day or 2 of the AI date every time...
Have not done much AI the last 8 years due to the joint problems.... but hope to do some this year. I will sometimes go in and do a preg check on animals that we thought were bred or were due soon.... I can feel one after about 5 months but just do not have the touch for shorter bred... We get the vet out to do the groups since he is fast and more accurate... uses Ultrasound... there was a vet that used to do alot of the dairies... palpation.... and he could get within a day or 2 of the AI date every time...
Josher
Well-known member
We do our own AI here and been happy with the results. Been at it for about 5 years now. Each year gets a little bit easier.
Wish i knew how to Preg test the odd one.
But I haven't been bothered to learn how as we get the vet out and if we can run them through fast enough it's only about 3 or 4 bucks a head. He uses ultrasound.
Wish i knew how to Preg test the odd one.
But I haven't been bothered to learn how as we get the vet out and if we can run them through fast enough it's only about 3 or 4 bucks a head. He uses ultrasound.
Thunter
Member
We hired a guy last fall to Preg check our girls. He taught me and I was less confident than before I started. Maybe it was because most of our girls were early in the first trimester. The guy was very helpful and knowledgeable but bottom line I really didn't know what I was feeling for. Looking forward to trying again this year.
I've been thinking about that statement.... Yes, the reproductive tract is usually to the right side when performing AI. However, one year the Vet was out for a C-section. Said he usually does C-sections on the left side, because the guts are on the right side. Vet did the C-section on the right side due to my headgate/chute setup. I remember because I had to scrub-in and hold the intestines, while he fished out the calf. The 2 statements don't add up (right vs left), so I must be missing something...
Twisted
Well-known member
Believe it or not, I thought the same thing as nearly every cow that I had seen during C-section or seen photos of, had the scar on the left side, I assumed the calf was carried more on the left side. Then after that statement, I also wondered if it depended on which of the uterine horns the calf was carried in.
Dsth
Well-known member
When we milked the Holsteins, we would "bump" the calf at about 7 months pregnant to know when to dry the cow up for the next lactation. "bumping" was a quick trust with your fist on the right side of the cow in the rear half of the stomach area. If you could feel the calf bounce off your fist, it was time to dry the cow up.
Thunter
Member
I would definitely like to learn that. My vet mainly deals with horses so I'd have to do my homework on finding someone in my area to show me how.
I've only had one c-section and it was on the left side. But like @Dsth, if I bump a calf, it's on the right side.
@gcreekrch, you've done a lot of c-sections. Can you explain?
wbvs58
Well-known member
I haven't done many C sections however the reason is pretty much as described previously in that the rumen displaces all the intestines to the right side including the calf however in late pregnancies the calf occupies a big area and parts will be accessible behind the rumen to access the uterus and a limb or two and once pulled to the incission line forms a good plug to keep the intestines from pouring out.
Ken
Incision on left side. Reach down to bottom of abdomen under stomach and you can find hind legs of normally positioned calf. You then turn calf on its side essentially and bring hind legs to outer incision. Intestines should stay on right side as you mention. When preg testing, in most cases you are feeling for larger calves to right side of cow. I don't know why, it just is.
Bob Kinford
Well-known member
If you can AI, you can preg test. You already know what the uterus feels like when the cow is in heat. 1st trimester it's going to feel bigger than normal. 2nd trimester you won't be able to feel it, but will be able to feel it. 3rd trimester you should be able to feel the calf.
