Fertility testing-dairy calves

[topside1]

Well I'm getting closer and closer to purchasing week old Holstein heifer calves. I've been told that the dairy auction house performs fertility tests on the calves to validate their fertility prior to sale. Is that true??
Thanks everyone!!!

Highland, I would appreciate your input, being local and all....thanks

[dosthouhavemilk]

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[Jan in CO]

I agree. I've heard of them doing checks to see if the internal organs were correct, but I highly doubt a two week old heifer could be shown to be fertile or not, unless they are a freemartin, of course.

Met a family at the auction yesterday that said they had bought five heifers from that place, and all of them had ended up being sterile. Probably why they were brought there, as the rancher knew they would be, and thus sold them. I'd sure like to get a nice tame, breedable heifer myself!

Jan in Co

[Highland]

Every heifer calf at Mammoth Cave Dairy Auction is vet checked--- the non- breeders will be chalked and called such when they are sold.

[topside1]

Thanks Highland, that's what I was told, wow that takes a lot of risk out of the purchase. Does the Vet use the glass tube method mentioned above or what....Just trying to learn....Yes I will be going to Mammoth Cave Auction in the near future.

[topside1]

Jan, the family you met must be extremely unlucky. Five in a row would have cost this family $2,500 minimum, and they keep coming back to this auction!!....Wow. Maybe they were buying $150 heifers, labeled as freemartins and just gambling on the hope that they may get bred....$2,500 dollar is a lot of money where I come from.

[topside1]

Sorry to bump but,....I will also google this topic later this evening...anymore info would surely be helpful.

Does the Vet use the glass tube method mentioned above at all dairy auctions or some other method. ...Just trying to learn....Yes I will be going to Mammoth Cave Auction in the near future, Highland what method does the Vet use there?

Anyone else have knowledge on this topic...I go to the beef auctions from time to time and have never heard of this practice. However I know as much about beef heifers as I do dairy (not much) but I'm about to learn. Just hoping to talk the talk while at the dairy auction....Thanks TJ

[Highland]

The vet there uses a probe made just for that purpose.
The best bet is just go a time or two and watch listen and learn! LOL As with most ,if not all auctions there are sellers you should avoid! But with baby calves theres not much to worry about but with older stuff--- well--------- experiance is a good teacher.

[topside1]

Thanks Highland, just got off the phone with Mammoth Cave. Learned a bit from them, learning from you, and the Montooth brothers here in Monterey....I'll be a pro in no time...LOL....Should be heading your way in the next couple weeks....John

[SHELBY]

John,

Most auctions are using what is called a 'RU-AN Freemartin Probe'

if it doesn't go 7 cm the heifer is labeled a freemartin, 7-14 cm questionable, 14cm and over good to go.

[topside1]

Thank you Shelby and Highland...

[TulleyJohnMyers]

I use the freemartin probe I got it form jefferies think it was less then $10 After I get my calfs home i recheck every one...some the probe will not even fit in on the freemartins 1/2 inch......It will only work up to 4 weeks of age after that your own your own till a vet can stick a hand in or do a blood test...tjm

[topside1]

thanks TJM...

[Jan in CO]

The probes are a good bit more than $10 now, but I'm looking around the house to see what I could use as a substitute that could be sterilized. The family I met at the auction paid less than $100 per heifer, so not out as much as one might think, but still, more than they wanted to spend on useless heifer calfs, I guess.

They ended up buying a heifer from a rancher, and hope she is now bred. Jan in Co