ALACOWMAN said:
I don't want to feed fertility in one..how do you know what you actually have. You might be masking some problem... But The deeper I get in Angus the more fertile they are, early...
I don't see it that way.
I'm doing AI mostly, over 90% at the moment, and I don't want to waste time or resources. If I can have every advantage possible to get those gals pregnant, especially in this heat, I will use it, particularly if I'm using semen that I might not be able to replace or semen that is relatively expensive.
You don't have to give Multimin 90 to get them pregnant, but my vet and my experience have taught me that a shot 20-30 days prior to gives you a better chance.
You don't have to handle the semen precisely, lots of people are sloppy and still get them settled, but a clean and disciplined protocol gives you an edge.
I don't have to use Fertagyl, but my vet told me, that will give you a slight advantage, so I use it, for that slight edge.
I don't have to give them fresh water, they could drink solely from a dirty creek, I heard freshwater gives them an edge.
I don't have to give the grain or mineral that I do, but I have seen improvement over a number of years, so I do it.
They don't need a lot of things and can still get pregnant, especially when using a good bull.
I'm nearly certain that if I suddenly stopped doing everything, put a bull out there, and walked away, I would come back to a lot of calves next year, but that's not the plan. I have a neighbor that literally does the minimum possible with his cattle, yet he still has some calves each year, they are a little worse for the wear, but they are standing up.
What I am doing is no different than a lot of industries or professions where a little edge can mean a lot. Take trucking, you don't need all those wind flap things and wheel coverings and such, but I suppose it gives them an edge over those who don't use them.
Take ranchers that use horses or SUV's. You don't really NEED them, they are a convenience, you could still round up cattle on foot, I've done it, but an ATV or horse makes things a LOT better.
None of the stuff that I mentioned above was done for MANY years out here, more than 40, and cows got settled with a bull no problems at all, but what I'm trying to do in 2019 is taking a bit more effort and attention to detail.