Cows Not Holding!

HazyDay · #1 09/11/07, 02:03 PM

My Aunt and Uncle have a 41 head of dairy cows and are having a big problem with cows holding! the 2 bulls they have now (Hereford and Hostein sp??) are not working! Every cow seems to come in heat every month. They were told that LAYER RATION will fix it?? Is this true?? Or just lazy sperm??

agmantoo · #2 09/11/07, 02:35 PM

I think it is illegal to feed layer ration to cattle!

HazyDay · #3 09/11/07, 03:16 PM

Really??? It's just a corn mix. More a 4 grain mix then anything. These are just breeders! No meat!

#4 09/11/07, 06:16 PM

Here it is illegal to feed any prepared feed to cattle that is not prepared FOR cattle, I would think it is pretty much the same in the USA. It is quite possible that there is meat or bone meal in chicken feed. And, iunless you keep every animal you raise until it dies then it is quite likely that they will end up in the food chain.

Before you start blaming your cows, have you had your bulls semen tested?? It is quite possible that they are the problem. It is either that or your cows are in very poor condition, or that you are trying to breed them back too soon after they calve. If you want to increase the protien/energy in their feed, there are a lot of cattle supplements out there, that are designed for cattle.

HazyDay · #5 09/11/07, 07:52 PM

Not my cows, but they are in good condition. They wait 3 months after claving to even think about breeding them. All get good pasture, 18% dairy ration and minerals.

The bulls are all under 1 year. (But the hereford could be older.) I don`t think any vets around here will do that. They will look at you liek your crazy! Heck I called about a simple goat qeustion and they couldn`t answer it! They wanted me to call a vet 4 hours away and cost me a ton of money!!!

for the chicken feed. All feedstores around here say NO animal bi products are used in any feeds.

But I dò remember that most of all the feed they get is older stuff. So maybe a old feed thing!!!

ozark_jewels · #6 09/11/07, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HazyDay

The bulls are all under 1 year. (But the hereford could be older.) I don`t think any vets around here will do that. They will look at you liek your crazy! Heck I called about a simple goat qeustion and they couldn`t answer it!

Most vets know 99% more about cattle than they do about goats.

I would bet its the bulls as well. If they are under one year and the cows are mature cows.....can the bulls reach??

HazyDay · #7 09/11/07, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

Most vets know 99% more about cattle than they do about goats.

I would bet its the bulls as well. If they are under one year and the cows are mature cows.....can the bulls reach??

They can reach, I have seen both breed them. Im not sure what they are going to do! I think we may have 2 animals to eat this winter! I would think they could take the dairy bull back. He is a REG bull. They don`t care but when I buy bucks or does they all come with breeding slips they say if they can`t breed they will get you another animal or your money back.

These old cow trades! But hey I have found alot of worst goat trades!

#8 09/11/07, 08:22 PM

Well, find a vet that can do a Breeding Soundness Exam. It is worth the money to find out if your bulls are any good or not. Another thing to consider, is that if the bulls are under a year old, they may not be sexually mature enough to breed. They have to be a certain size and age to reach sexual maturity. They are no different than heifers. I think that this herd needs some management issues dealt with!!

HazyDay · #9 09/11/07, 08:28 PM

Well you try saying that to them! a 16 yearold boy to people who have doing this since they were kids!

Up North · #10 09/11/07, 09:48 PM

Heat and Humidity, rather than feeding, are most likely the culprits for lack of conception. If a cow is coming into heat in September, that indicates she did not concieve in July, or August, when heat and humidity take their toll.
My suspicion is that cows will begin to settle in the cool fall weather.

HazyDay · #11 09/12/07, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Up North

Heat and Humidity, rather than feeding, are most likely the culprits for lack of conception. If a cow is coming into heat in September, that indicates she did not concieve in July, or August, when heat and humidity take their toll.
My suspicion is that cows will begin to settle in the cool fall weather.

Good point! I know they said only a few cows held. (The nuts that they wanted to sell!) But I guess this means 20+ claves in June!!!

But hey atleast they will start milking agian!