Heifer in Heat

[Hasbeen]

Put a bull with the heifers yesterday afternoon. Today when I checked them at lunch he had zeroed in on my favorite. She seemed to be willing but not ready to stand for him yet. I won't be able to check again until tomorrow and I know that she will probably be in heat for 24 hrs but in standing heat for only about 8 hrs. My question is, can I reasonably assume she will be bred by tomorrow afternoon if I don't witness it? I bought these girls in November and I'm seen them in heat several times so I know what to look for and she seems to be receptive, just not standing when he tries to mount.
I know this is a really dumba-- question and I think I know the answer, I'm really just looking for comfirmation that I can go ahead and write down her bred date. I also know there are things that can go wrong and it may not be sucessful and I will watch to see if she comes in heat again later. What I'm looking for is generalities. Can I cross her off of the list for now?

 

[certherfbeef]

Assuming the bull is sound and in "working" order. I'd mark her down as bred.

 

[Hasbeen]

Assuming the bull is sound and in "working" order. I'd mark her down as bred.

Thank you, I understand there are assumptions.

 

[Bret]

I agree with Certherfbeef. Write it down and watch for her to cycle again in 18 to 21 days. If you don't see her in heat again then, you can have her preg. checked in 45 days.

 

[Victoria]

I too would write this date down. Have one in the field playing the same game with the bull right now and she is on my list as today being her breeding date.

 

[ONLY-BEEF]

Mister Hasbeen ifen ya can get ta see her real early in the mornen take yur self a gander at her rear. Ifen he had a few chances at her ya should see some o that semen leaken out.

 

[S.R.R.]

Assuming the bull is sound and in "working" order. I'd mark her down as bred.

I agree. If he is a proven bull put her down as bred.

 

[SEC]

Only Beef, what's up with the farm boy jibberish?

She's bred today then!

 

[Hasbeen]

Thanks everyone. Unless I see her in heat again I will figure on 2/3/07 (give or take 10 days) as her due date.

I had wanted to wait another month but couldn't pass up the deal. I get the use of the bull in exchange for pasturing him and three cow/calf pairs for the summer. The calves are sired by the bull so he is proven.

 

[certherfbeef]

The calves are sired by the bull so he is proven.

Just cause there are calves on the ground from last season doesn't mean he is still sound this season. Lots of things can go wrong. Our local sale barn offers a BSE (bull soundness exam) every april. Costs ya $40 and the fuel to get him there for peace of mind for one more year.

I reckon the proper terms would be to mark the heifer down as "serviced" and either wait till she passes over a heat or she is preg checked safe to call her "bred".
Either way, you atleast have a date of reference.

 

[redfornow]

Sounds like a good deal on the bull if you have the pasture.
I am in central Ky and its going to be COLD in early feb, and heifers require ALOT of time out in the field.
You could get lucky and have a warm spell, but mine never calf during the warm spot its always the snow storm that follows, with the driving rain. :roll:

Good luck hope it turns out fine.

MD

 

[Hasbeen]

Sounds like a good deal on the bull if you have the pasture.
I am in central Ky and its going to be COLD in early feb, and heifers require ALOT of time out in the field.
You could get lucky and have a warm spell, but mine never calf during the warm spot its always the snow storm that follows, with the driving rain. :roll:

Good luck hope it turns out fine.

MD

You're right, Feb in my area of Ky usually involves a cold, miserable rain. I believe I would rather have the snow. I won't be a bit disappointed if she comes up open on the first try as long as the second one takes.

 

[redfornow]

Yep you might get lucky and them come up open the first time thru.
Hey we may have a warm spell, it happens just not the years I am calving out heifers.
Maybe its just me????

Again good luck, hope it turns out great.

Md

 

[ONLY-BEEF]

Only Beef, what's up with the farm boy jibberish?

She's bred today then!

Sorry mister SEC we cant all be godarn perfect like you! ;-)
I went on ahead an asked cookys wife ifen she would give me a hand on this here typen. First dang thing she tells me is there aint no word called o i should a been usen the word of. so thats just what im gonna do! ifen i keep at this here machine long enough i might get ta be as good at it as yall

 

[Susie David]

Looks like it's all up to your bull....
last year I never saw one of our cows get covered but all calved in March. Guess he worked the night shift.
DMc

 

[Hasbeen]

He bred three more over the weekend, the girls are working him hard. Five down, three to go and if every one does their job it's going to be a very short calving period next February.

 

[memanpa]

Only Beef, what's up with the farm boy jibberish?


Sorry mister SEC we cant all be godarn perfect like you! ;-)
I went on ahead an asked cookys wife ifen she would give me a hand on this here typen. First dang thing she tells me is there aint no word called o i should a been usen the word of. so thats just what im gonna do! ifen i keep at this here machine long enough i might get ta be as good at it as yall

sounds to me like a HOLLYWOOD script writer got to only beef and is trying to make him sound DOWN HOME!!!!!
IMHO just an act

 

[SEC]

I was informed the Only Beef's IP address is near SRR in Canada.

You're busted and fired off the set of Dukes of Hazzard