Developing Recips for ET

[TwoByrdsMG]

We have been doing ET for the past 7 years but have only done a few at a time.

I've got a group of Shorthorn cows that I bought last year that stuck easily to AI and are 3-5 years old this year plus a big group of first calf heifers to pick from this year (in addition to the proven recips). I'd like to set up a big group this year but the Shorties are the smallest cattle we own (all of them are 950-1100 lbs). The first calf heifers are 1100-1200 lbs. Half the first calf heifers settled to TAI but are due to calve 30 days after our cows.

I've got a mixture of conventional domestic, conventional imported, conventional IVF and sorted heifer IVF embryos. The conventional embryos tend to stick easier than IVF.

Note: We also had a hard lesson sending some embryos to a cooperative herd and none settled. Extremely expensive mistake since all of those were import embryos.

I am looking for advise from folks who develop their own recips- is it better to use the 3-5 year old smaller shorthorn cows or the larger first calf heifers for ET?

 

[SBMF 2015]

We have been doing ET for the past 7 years but have only done a few at a time.

I've got a group of Shorthorn cows that I bought last year that stuck easily to AI and are 3-5 years old this year plus a big group of first calf heifers to pick from this year (in addition to the proven recips). I'd like to set up a big group this year but the Shorties are the smallest cattle we own (all of them are 950-1100 lbs). The first calf heifers are 1100-1200 lbs. Half the first calf heifers settled to TAI but are due to calve 30 days after our cows.

I've got a mixture of conventional domestic, conventional imported, conventional IVF and sorted heifer IVF embryos. The conventional embryos tend to stick easier than IVF.

Note: We also had a hard lesson sending some embryos to a cooperative herd and none settled. Extremely expensive mistake since all of those were import embryos.

I am looking for advise from folks who develop their own recips- is it better to use the 3-5 year old smaller shorthorn cows or the larger first calf heifers for ET?

At work we make all our own recips. Used hfrs for the first time last year and it was ok. Typically a cow around here needs to stick A.I. the first time two years in a row before we try to make her a recip.

 

[wbvs58]

At work we make all our own recips. Used hfrs for the first time last year and it was ok. Typically a cow around here needs to stick A.I. the first time two years in a row before we try to make her a recip.

Sounds like good advice, I have never put in any embryos but I know I have some cows I just have to show them the tank and they are in calf while others seem to always be to the cleanup bull. If I was going to have any embryos put in I know which cows I'd be using.

Ken

 

[Dave]

A couple years ago B bought a bunch of worn old roping heifers for next to nothing. Did ET on them. I was at the chute when the vet preg checked them. There was 63% of them that the ET stuck. Probably the vet and how the embryos are handled is more important than the cow who is used.

 

[SBMF 2015]

A couple years ago B bought a bunch of worn old roping heifers for next to nothing. Did ET on them. I was at the chute when the vet preg checked them. There was 63% of them that the ET stuck. Probably the vet and how the embryos are handled is more important than the cow who is used.

It’s ALL of the above. Fertility, nutrition, timing, and a good ET vet. All are make or break. Our Embryologist is ridiculously picky. She scans each recip for a healthy CL and no cysts before she thaws an embryo. We average 30 minutes a cow. I took 3 to her the other day. All had been recips before but this time only one was good enough to get an embryo.

 

[StrojanHerefords]

A couple years ago B bought a bunch of worn old roping heifers for next to nothing. Did ET on them. I was at the chute when the vet preg checked them. There was 63% of them that the ET stuck. Probably the vet and how the embryos are handled is more important than the cow who is used.

Actually, in marginal conditions conception rates on ET can be better than with AI or Natural service as the embryo quality and corpus luteum are observable.