How soon can you AI after calving.

[Trixie Club Calves]

We're trying to slowly catch the late calvers up to the regular schedule. I know the usual rule of thumb is breeding 45-50 days after they calve.

I was thinking about letting them come into that first heat 30ish days after calving. Then trying to catch there 2nd heat after calving and AI'ing in that natural heat. Is that long enough for them after calving? Is natural heat worth trying? Still learning a lot about AI.

 

[Double R Ranch]

I've done it many times with success to bump cows up with the rest of the herd. I try for natural heats whenever possible. Cheaper and less labor involved and better success rates in my experience. It's pretty easy to catch heats when you know their schedule already. I log any heat's I see in our cows so I can use that come breeding time.

 

[Trixie Club Calves]

I've done it many times with success to bump cows up with the rest of the herd. I try for natural heats whenever possible. Cheaper and less labor involved and better success rates in my experience. It's pretty easy to catch heats when you know their schedule already. I log any heat's I see in our cows so I can use that come breeding time.

Have you had pretty good success with that second heat?
I thought it would be easier when on natural heat instead of going through the whole protocol with just one lol.
And you breed 12hrs after you notice them coming into heat. Any GNRH when you ai or anything?

 

[Farmgirl]

If you know when they were in heat last, you can give lute 6-16 days later and bring them into heat within 3 days. For a small group that is the easiest and cheapest way to group them.

 

[Double R Ranch]

Yes according to my breeding records I have been successful in second post calving heat breedings taking just fine. I definitely don't hesitate to try. I like a 30-45 day calving window and if I buy someone new I'll end up having to bump them up to get them on our breeding schedule. Sometimes it takes a year or two to get them on track but beats waiting for the next season with that cow open. It is easier on a natural heat just in labor alone as long as you still get the timing right. I almost always GNRH at breeding anymore. I think it's worth it to catch more of them. The breeding timing will be standard for the semen you are using. 12 hours with conventional semen post first signs of standing heat.

 

[Dsth]

I just read an article about catching late calvers up to herd mates. it suggested inserting a CIDR after 20 days to help boost hormone reproduction after calving. leave in for seven days and give shot of prostaglandin. breed on next heat cycle at about 45 days. I use to give a shot of GNRH at breeding but my vet said doing that is a waste of time and money unless you give the shot 12 hours before AIing. I was told by AI tech that it makes the egg release time more predictable which it does, but vet claims it needs to be given 12 hours before breeding so life of egg and semen are more in line with each other.

 

[Lucky_P]

I just read an article about catching late calvers up to herd mates. it suggested inserting a CIDR after 20 days to help boost hormone reproduction after calving. leave in for seven days and give shot of prostaglandin. breed on next heat cycle at about 45 days. I use to give a shot of GNRH at breeding but my vet said doing that is a waste of time and money unless you give the shot 12 hours before AIing. I was told by AI tech that it makes the egg release time more predictable which it does, but vet claims it needs to be given 12 hours before breeding so life of egg and semen are more in line with each other.

@Dsth - I was just going to post this. Saw the 20-day post-calving CIDR deal at a vet conference 10 years or more ago, in a presentation by a bovine repro guy from UofNebraska.
I'm not a reproductive physiologist, so I can't comment one way or the other on giving GnRH at or before breeding, but never saw that there would be any benefit to giving it at time of insemination.

 

[wbvs58]

I think for good results from AI 60 days is the gold standard. If I have a cow that calves a little later I just let the bull do the job and skip the AI. If I play around with synchronizing too early chances are I will miss her and lose more time whereas when with the bull they will often come on early.

Ken

 

[CowsRcuddly]

I just read an article about catching late calvers up to herd mates. it suggested inserting a CIDR after 20 days to help boost hormone reproduction after calving. leave in for seven days and give shot of prostaglandin. breed on next heat cycle at about 45 days. I use to give a shot of GNRH at breeding but my vet said doing that is a waste of time and money unless you give the shot 12 hours before AIing. I was told by AI tech that it makes the egg release time more predictable which it does, but vet claims it needs to be given 12 hours before breeding so life of egg and semen are more in line with each other.

You are spot on. GRNH needs to be given at time of heat so that the egg is released and ready for semen in 12 hrs. I have not seen any difference in using the GRNH later at breeding time. It just gives me a sense of hope.

 

[simme]

Yet all the protocols for timed AI have the GNRH given at time of insemination.

 

[Trixie Club Calves]

I think for good results from AI 60 days is the gold standard. If I have a cow that calves a little later I just let the bull do the job and skip the AI. If I play around with synchronizing too early chances are I will miss her and lose more time whereas when with the bull they will often come on early.

Ken

I've thought of just putting her with our bull, but he's just a yearling this year so don't want to fully rely on him. Once he's older I probably will.

 

[Trixie Club Calves]

So it's kinda unknown for the GNRH. It may help at the time of AI or it may not? Usually all the AI protocols I see are GNRH at time of AI.

 

[kenny thomas]

We're trying to slowly catch the late calvers up to the regular schedule. I know the usual rule of thumb is breeding 45-50 days after they calve.

I was thinking about letting them come into that first heat 30ish days after calving. Then trying to catch there 2nd heat after calving and AI'ing in that natural heat. Is that long enough for them after calving? Is natural heat worth trying? Still learning a lot about AI.

You dont let them come in heat, they come in heat when they are ready. None of the shots mentioned will help unless they are already coming in.