I could make a comment that would be off-color and off-topic, but I will refrain
Going back to school (AI class)
- Thread starter beefgirl
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Son of Butch
Well-known member
Practicing on heifers that are not in heat is a good way to get frustrated. Their cervix firms when in heat, otherwise it is soft and difficult to maneuver successfully. A good part of the AI tech's comment about problems breeding heifers is probably due to heifer not actually in heat when breeding, because all data says heifers have higher conception rates than cows.
Good luck with your ai class. I'm thinking about trying to learn how to preg check. Got a class coming to Crossville. Hate to spend the $400 though.
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beefgirl
Well-known member
That sounds like an interesting class.
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beefgirl
Well-known member
Practicing on those giant holsteins not in heat is frustrating too. I had no problem getting through cervix on nice little jersey cow they had there. I'm hoping it will be easier with my own beef cows especially since they will actually be in heat.
SBMF 2015
Well-known member
Preg checking is easy. Just stick your arm in and start feeling. Just like with A,I. the more you do the better you get.
No need for the class then aye? Figure I'll get my vet our and have a crash course. Get more for my money that way.
Son of Butch
Well-known member
Easy for some ain't so for others. One local vet had a reputation for cows losing their short term pregnancies after he palpated.
Stage of pregnancy matters as to how roughly they can be 'explored."
Ebenezer
Well-known member
Just curious: why not do blood tests? Just wanting to see the answers for or against.
We had a blood test on our best Angus heifer... said it was positive. She never did have a calf and we turned her into steak.
We had a vet on site this morning he was helping with some dehorning, AI, and so we had him preg check one of our heifers that is supposed to be due in May.
I would have swore she was open but he said she's pregnant but the calf is small so some people might not have noticed and thought she was open.
I don't mind paying to preg check expensive cattle.
We had a vet on site this morning he was helping with some dehorning, AI, and so we had him preg check one of our heifers that is supposed to be due in May.
I would have swore she was open but he said she's pregnant but the calf is small so some people might not have noticed and thought she was open.
I don't mind paying to preg check expensive cattle.
simme
Old Dumb Guy
Keep in mind that confirmation of pregnancy (regardless of method) does not ensure that a cow will calve. Abortion can occur between the preg check and the due date due to disease, environment, or "natural" causes. Palpation has some risk of inducing an abortion due to the touching/handling. Every method has some degree of accuracy/inaccuracy. Probably more variation in accuracy with palpation than other methods depending on skill/experience of the person. Also depending on the stage of pregnancy.
Travlr
Well-known member
I'll bet the cow would appreciate you sharing...
SBMF 2015
Well-known member
We do both. My spring calvers get blood tested. The fall calvers get ultrasounded by the vet when he is out to semen check bulls. I arm all the odd ball stuff that doesn't calve on time.
The same heifer got palped and confirmed pregnant 2 months after a positive blood test we're not sure when she lost it... never seen any evidence of it.
It happens.
But when you only have 8 to 10 calves a year, even one open hurts.
50/50Farms
Well-known member
How many cows do y'all run?
RDFF
Well-known member
If she was positive on the blood test, she WAS pregnant... but she lost it somewhere along the line. Spontaneous abortion/miscarriage is more common than one might think, especially early in pregnancy. On our dairy, we kept pretty good records, and it was a fairly common "anomaly" for a cow to not "come in" for her next anticipated heat cycle, but then to be back in heat like halfway through to the next one.... all that means is that she did conceive, but lost it shortly after, and then went right back into cycling again.
Beefgirl, when I was trained, they had the reproductive tract of both butchered heifers and cows there for us, so you could actually SEE what you were working with as you manipulated the cervix. While still not the same as that of a live animal, I think that helped the learning curve quite a bit initially. Beyond that, I'd suggest that you relax, try not to get nervous, probably best to be "by yourself"... so you don't have the pressure of onlookers you need to impress, etc.
I wouldn't suggest "practicing" on your young replacement heifers though... better to practice on some that you DON'T intend to keep as breeding replacements for that, IMO, especially if you're going to be wanting to breed them anytime soon. It IS possible to do some harm to them, if you're not careful enough as you "practice"... they'll likely heal up just fine... but I'd use something that I wasn't hoping to get bred, and for sure not any that I would be wanting to breed anytime soon.
My cousin and I both took the same course at the same time. He always seemed to have a bit more "trouble" than I did in getting through the cervix, more so on heifers. I think he was just in too much of a hurry, and he'd then try to rush it, or maybe "force it more"... you could visibly see his frustration... and of course, it was ALWAYS the animal's fault... I expect that lots of times, he'd just give up and inject the semen anyway. He did have a lower first-service conception rate than I did... in the same herd. Over time as he became more experienced, his conception rate improved though too. It's mostly just a matter of relaxing, taking your time, being "gentle", and not letting yourself get worked up and frustrated, regardless of how long it might take you to "thread that needle" properly.
Good luck!
RDFF
Well-known member
Use a bull... it's a whole lot easier, and more reliable.
