Flushing a heifer?

[alexfarms]

Anyone had any experience flushing an 18 month old heifer? Good, bad...whatever?

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

Most folks only want to spend the money to flush proven cows. What if the heifer is a dud?

 

[whitecow]

I've never flushed an 18 month old heifer, but I have flushed several 12-15 month olds. Use a smaller dose of FSH and only flush them once before letting them have a calf. I have not seen any detrimental affects and have had no trouble getting them bred after flushing. Heifers usually produce fewer embryos than cows. But I did have one heifer produce 19 good embryos. She averaged 19 over her lifetime. However, it takes a pretty special heifer to make me want to risk the expense and potential risk of flushing without first seeing what kind of calf she will produce.

 

[jkwilson]

I'd think you'd be better off flushing her mother back to the same bull if possible. You already know that combination produces if you are even thinking of flushing the heifer.

 

[alexfarms]

You all make good points. I am at a point where I need another 10 cows for the pasture I have next year. Most of my cows are bred(including this heifers mother). I don't know much about "in-vitro", I guess it can be done on bred females. I had this nice heifer that I didn't expose this year and I just got to thinking maybe she would be the one to do a flush on. I know the genetics, I would know what I was getting, she fits with one the bulls I have semen on and have been looking for an opportunity to use. A straight flush is probably cheaper than "in-vitro". I have been taking a rather slow approach to building the herd back up and am starting to lose my patience, I guess. I am just thinking I need to fill the pastures and start looking to sqeeze more out of the cattle enterprise. Plus, I have a sneaking suspicion that purchasing a few recips now and selling them in 18 months might pay off.

 

[CKC1586]

I'd think you'd be better off flushing her mother back to the same bull if possible. You already know that combination produces if you are even thinking of flushing the heifer.

I agree. Our embryologist does not recommend flushing heifers...