Well...somewhere, something went right....kinda.
I've been AIing the herd since November (30th...around 11PM lol) of 2005. In the beginning, despite my poor techniques, my conception rate was decent. Sometime last summer/fall it all went south. About the time my technique improved...lol
We have a number of cows who have been milking well over a year now and are still open. There are also three dry cows, none of which appear to be bred. Most of the herd is on their 6+ breeding for this lactation.
It's been discouraging to say the least.
We do have some heifers due this summer, however. We've had 7 calves born since the beginning of 2007. All bull calves, 2 born dead (extremely high rate for us) and 2 born to cows I didn't breed myself...So I settled five cows for 2007 so far. The rest of the year shows 5 cows due to calve and 4 heifers due to calve. So 14 out of 30+ breeding head. Ouch......Cervantes (coming 15 month old Jersey) better be able to settle some animals! He'll be put in with the heifer herd to start, while I still try to settle the mature cows. If he grows (he's only about 40 inches at this point), we'll try him with the cow herd this Fall.
Anyways, here are our next animals due;
Essie (5 yr old 3/4 Jersey, 1/4 Norwegian Red) is due with her second calf on the 10th. She is settled to Ahlem (1J619-test sire). She last calved in September of 2005. She stopped cycling for three months and we thought she was bred, but she wasn't. Or else she was and slipped the pregnancy. Dad is thinking I've settled a number but they aren't retaining their pregnancies. After disucssing vaccinations with the vet it turns out there are some local herds that had some serious issues with a different strain of Lepto...thanks to the King's deer, of course....
Shaylee (3 yr old 7/8 Jersey, 1/8 Norwegian Red) is finally due with her first calf either the 21st of July or the 1st of September. She is settled to Rocket (9J202) if she calves the end of this month. She may be available as a family cow this winter. As you can see, a very easy keeper..lol She hasn't had serious grain since she was 9 months old. The group of 20+ get a total of maybe 4-6 pounds of grain two to three times a year for health checks and bringing them in after they get out. That's all grass on that cow!
Madelin (2 yr old Jersey) is to Shaylee's left. She is due in late September to a test sire, I believe.
Calliope (coming 3 yr old) is due with her first calf in late August. She is settled to Roulette (1J370). This heifer was being nursed over a year ago. Dad just about dry treated her, but she had dried off on her own. She was producing quite well from the looks of it and had not ever been bred at that point. We did not bring her into milk though. It will be interesting to see what comes of the udder. It is scary at this point......She is an absolute doll though.
Argos (2 yr old 3/4 Jersey, 1/4 Norwegian Red-younger half sister to Hermaine who calved this past May and our first Jason (3/4 J, 1/4 NR Jace son) daughter to calve is due either August 3rd, or August 25th. If she is due the third she is settled to Alf (1J382), but she is most likely settled to Morgan (1J480) and due the 25th. Her rear udder is very low. Her half sister's udder is a "bag." Hideous. Not sure what happened, but I hope she isn't the same. Their dam's udder was fine. Shaylee's dam and the dam to these two sisters are twins.
The other four cows are due starting the beginning of October.
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