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<blockquote data-quote="creekdrive" data-source="post: 1598265" data-attributes="member: 21216"><p>We test 50+ yearling bulls that range from 10-12 months of age every year. We use 2 different vet clinics throughout the year, but the one vet is far better at semen testing than the other. They both use the exact same probe and they both use it on the automatic setting so neither is fiddling with the dials. </p><p></p><p>The one vet averages less than 5 minutes per bull (that is to measure scrotals, internal exam (I can't think of what that is called right now) take the sample and stain it on a slide so that it can be counted later). We have very few retests with him.</p><p></p><p>The other vet seems to struggle to get a sample, animals go down in the chute, they bellar and scream. It takes forever and is stressful on both the animals and ourselves. I'd consider both to be good vets overall but retests are expensive so needless to say the last couple of years we have stuck to the vet that has the better success. The only difference I have observed is that the vet that struggles to get a sample really makes sure that the bull is cleaned out before he inserts the probe. I think maybe having less fecal matter causes them to be ultra sensitive to the probe. Maybe I'm way out to lunch with that theory? I will say that the vet that struggles with our yearlings generally has no problems with any of our older bulls (2 yrs & up). I have heard similar observations from other people in the area that have used both.</p><p></p><p>Of course every year there is a few that are just hard to get a sample from. With those ones our vet will generally turn the probe from automatic to manual and fiddle with the dials till he gets a sample. Some require a bit of patience. Sometimes if they are having difficulties both vets will try a rectal massage. And I don't know why but just about every year we have found that the bulls that are extra tame (like dogs) are more likely to go down in the chute and give us problems. It also seems like once they figure out that they can go down and the procedure stops some of them instantly want to go down the next time you try and test them. Brisket bar would probably be helpful or as Ken mentioned ratchet straps can work to support the ones that continually want to go down. The other thing to try with the ones that want to go down - we have found it can help to not catch their head, just let them stand in the chute. Sometimes if they aren't pulling back they stay on their feet better. </p><p></p><p>That post got kind of long winded....sorry about that! Hopefully it was just a bad day for the boys and the next time everything goes smoother.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="creekdrive, post: 1598265, member: 21216"] We test 50+ yearling bulls that range from 10-12 months of age every year. We use 2 different vet clinics throughout the year, but the one vet is far better at semen testing than the other. They both use the exact same probe and they both use it on the automatic setting so neither is fiddling with the dials. The one vet averages less than 5 minutes per bull (that is to measure scrotals, internal exam (I can't think of what that is called right now) take the sample and stain it on a slide so that it can be counted later). We have very few retests with him. The other vet seems to struggle to get a sample, animals go down in the chute, they bellar and scream. It takes forever and is stressful on both the animals and ourselves. I'd consider both to be good vets overall but retests are expensive so needless to say the last couple of years we have stuck to the vet that has the better success. The only difference I have observed is that the vet that struggles to get a sample really makes sure that the bull is cleaned out before he inserts the probe. I think maybe having less fecal matter causes them to be ultra sensitive to the probe. Maybe I'm way out to lunch with that theory? I will say that the vet that struggles with our yearlings generally has no problems with any of our older bulls (2 yrs & up). I have heard similar observations from other people in the area that have used both. Of course every year there is a few that are just hard to get a sample from. With those ones our vet will generally turn the probe from automatic to manual and fiddle with the dials till he gets a sample. Some require a bit of patience. Sometimes if they are having difficulties both vets will try a rectal massage. And I don't know why but just about every year we have found that the bulls that are extra tame (like dogs) are more likely to go down in the chute and give us problems. It also seems like once they figure out that they can go down and the procedure stops some of them instantly want to go down the next time you try and test them. Brisket bar would probably be helpful or as Ken mentioned ratchet straps can work to support the ones that continually want to go down. The other thing to try with the ones that want to go down - we have found it can help to not catch their head, just let them stand in the chute. Sometimes if they aren't pulling back they stay on their feet better. That post got kind of long winded....sorry about that! Hopefully it was just a bad day for the boys and the next time everything goes smoother. [/QUOTE]
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