When to breed?

[whisperingpinesnh]

Hi Everyone!

My 17 year old decided that she wants to have a career in farming. She bought a couple of mixed breed heifer calves last fall. We have heard, from all kinds of folks who have never owned cows, when to breed these ladies. Some say @ a year, some say 15 months, and the vet that we fired recommended waiting until they are 2 years. We don't know for certain what breeds they are. One appears to be a jersey crossed with brown Swiss maybe. The other was supposedly jersey/holstein, but I have my doubts. I think she looks more like a holstein/Angus but she's on the smaller side and has been slow to grow. We can get a vet out here to do AI this coming August. They will be 16 & 14 months old. She wants to cross them with Angus, and that seems like the smart thing to do. You all have far more experience than we do, and we are pretty isolated. There's almost no daisy's or cattle ranches up here at all. We'd appreciate any advice from folks with experience.
Thanks everyone.

 

[whisperingpinesnh]

Hi Everyone!

My 17 year old decided that she wants to have a career in farming. She bought a couple of mixed breed heifer calves last fall. We have heard, from all kinds of folks who have never owned cows, when to breed these ladies. Some say @ a year, some say 15 months, and the vet that we fired recommended waiting until they are 2 years. We don't know for certain what breeds they are. One appears to be a jersey crossed with brown Swiss maybe. The other was supposedly jersey/holstein, but I have my doubts. I think she looks more like a holstein/Angus but she's on the smaller side and has been slow to grow. We can get a vet out here to do AI this coming August. They will be 16 & 14 months old. She wants to cross them with Angus, and that seems like the smart thing to do. You all have far more experience than we do, and we are pretty isolated. There's almost no daisy's or cattle ranches up here at all. We'd appreciate any advice from folks with experience.
Thanks everyone.

*DAIRY'S not daisy's - autocorrect strikes again.

 

[bird dog]

Jan will be along shortly to help you out. She's the foremost expert on cattle like you are describing. Remember, turning them out with a bull does not guarantee that they are cycling. Since you are new and to try and avoid calving problems, I would wait until they are 18 months.

 

[whisperingpinesnh]

Thank you. Yes we are new to cows. We had goats for many years and did well with breeding and birthing, this seems similar, but there's still so much more to learn. We cam definitely tell when they're in heat so that helps some, but I do have a lot of questions. Books are one thing. Real experience is better. Thanks

 

[Travlr]

Thank you. Yes we are new to cows. We had goats for many years and did well with breeding and birthing, this seems similar, but there's still so much more to learn. We cam definitely tell when they're in heat so that helps some, but I do have a lot of questions. Books are one thing. Real experience is better. Thanks

You might want to check in with the local guy that sells semen, if there is one in your area. They might be cheaper than the vet and they are usually very good at getting animals bred. The good ones also know about what they are selling and can advise you on what bulls would work best with your animals.

 

[whisperingpinesnh]

I absolutely would if we had anyone. There's literally 1 vet in a 500 mile radius that does AI. It's just not in high enough demand up here

You might want to check in with the local guy that sells semen, if there is one in your area. They might be cheaper than the vet and they are usually very good at getting animals bred. The good ones also know about what they are selling and can advise you on what bulls would work best with your animals.

 

[simme]

I absolutely would if we had anyone. There's literally 1 vet in a 500 mile radius that does AI. It's just not in high enough demand up here

Are you sure? If you are in New Hampshire, 500 miles radius will get you New York, Pennsylvania, down into West Virginia and Maryland, way up into Canada. Maybe call one of these guys. If they can't help, they might be able to direct you to someone who could.

https://www.premierselectsires.com/directory-new_hampshir/

 

[whisperingpinesnh]

Are you sure? If you are in New Hampshire, 500 miles radius will get you New York, Pennsylvania, down into West Virginia and Maryland, way up into Canada. Maybe call one of these guys. If they can't help, they might be able to direct you to someone who could.

https://www.premierselectsires.com/directory-new_hampshir/

Premiere hasn't serviced the area since 2022. There's a program at the University of Vermont where they'd go in and do the classes on AI, but less and less people were interested. We missed the action I guess. There are a few vets up in Central Maine but they don't travel this far. Maine Organic Farmers used to also do a class, but even they've stopped and are now pushing "veganism", which is a terrible disease that I certainly don't want to catch.