We fall calve starting first of Sept. (heifers calve one cycle ahead of cows, so early August). We AI the week of Thanksgiving. For the last few years we've kept bull in for 65d and that is it. We do ultrasound preg check around 95d post AI so we can get a more accurate preg check, plus we are able to get fetal sexing done on all the AI's and nearly all of the cows bred on first service by the bull. Most years, we are at 85-90% bred after bull has first shot post AI. We sell any opens and "stragglers" that are bred after the first service unless she is a real good cow, in which case, we give her one more chance. Next year though, she'd better be AI or first service or she's heading to town. We only have about 40 cows so we are not a huge operation. This is not our main source of income either, so that makes it easier to be a little harder on the cows than we would if we were relying solely on the farming income. This year, we had no open cows, but sold 4 of the stragglers. last year we had 100% bred either AI or first service. Sometimes it's a home run and sometimes its just a base hit.
