How does AI work...

darbyfamily · #1 10/27/07, 10:46 AM

If we were to get a Highland heifer from this guy dh knows, and then wanted breed her with a Dexter bull, how would that work?

Im assuming because of the size difference, we'd probably need to go with AI?

How do you find someone in your area who does that for you? a large animal vet? so you just get one straw? or do you get more in case it doesnt take? And like someone asked on another post, how do they get the straw to you? dry ice? in a container?

We wont have a lot of space, but I would love to experiment with different combinations to find what we like

I'd love to get Dexters, but I think we can get a highland for less $$ upfront and then go from there

Are Dexter/Highland crosses a good mix?

Thanks for answering my questions...I'll keep reading and taking notes

Oxankle · #2 10/27/07, 11:27 AM

Darby:
AI in cattle is not like that in pigs. Most beef AI is done by a tech rep of the company selling the semen. Keeping a freeze container and a stock of straws of semen is more trouble and expense than most beef men will bother with unless they are big-time. Dairymen, I understand, do their own in many cases but I'm ignorant there. TanaMc down near the OK line is probably a good source of info.

It takes a bit of training to get good at beef AI. The techs I use (ABS Global.com) have missed one breeding in three years--no novice could do that.

Go find a tech; should not be hard to do if you ask around or call the semen suppliers. Then find the source of semen and ask your tech to do the deed. He can get the semen shipped in, pop it in his storage and come out when your cow comes in heat.
Ox

gwithrow · #3 10/29/07, 06:05 AM

we have five cows that we want to breed in Dec or Jan, two are heifers and the other three have each had a calf...we have JUST enough hay for our cow for winter due to drought, and the pastures are pitiful...would AI be better than trying to bring a bull here for two months this winter? and how can we get the cows to cycle together?

travlnusa · #4 10/29/07, 06:31 AM

Call the AI tech in your area. I use Genex. She comes out, and we get the cows cycling together (cost about $15/head). That is done by putting an inplant into each cow, and giving them a shot. Seven days later, I will brings the cows back in, and pull the inplants, and give another shot.

72 hours later, AI tech arrives and we breed, and yes, another shot.

Conception rate for AI tends to be around 70%.

I own my own semen straws, but the AI Tech holds them in her tank. If anything happens, her company will replace them.

cur huntin' kid · #5 10/29/07, 06:51 PM

First of all the AI tech's use a nitrogen tank and where i work when a cow comes in heat we just leave her in her stall then we call Genex and they come that day. If you live in an area where Dexters are not common you might want to tell the company what you want before they come to your farm.

JulieLou42 · #6 10/29/07, 07:53 PM

The only AI Tech in our area is so good that my cow's conceived four out of four with him. Cannot beat that!!! Universal Semen has Dexter ...

Sher · #7 10/30/07, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwithrow

we have five cows that we want to breed in Dec or Jan, two are heifers and the other three have each had a calf...we have JUST enough hay for our cow for winter due to drought, and the pastures are pitiful...would AI be better than trying to bring a bull here for two months this winter? and how can we get the cows to cycle together?

We live in Iowa and if we had five cows to be bred..there are bulls sitting around that could be "rented".

We have two bulls and would probably breed someone else's cows if they didn't have a bull.

We have loaned our herd bull out in the past to breed milk cows. They come and get him..they feed him and use him..they bring him back. I am just wondering if you are very close to anyone who has a bull that could help you out for this season.

Best of luck..can't beat those Dexters!

darbyfamily · #8 10/30/07, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulieLou42

The only AI Tech in our area is so good that my cow's conceived four out of four with him. Cannot beat that!!! Universal Semen has Dexter ...

:lol: :lol: their motto is "we stand behind every cow we service" :lol:

for some reason that just really cracked me up!

gwithrow · #9 10/30/07, 08:05 PM

well I have thought about doing just that, however every mouth to feed has to be considered this year, and a bored bull could tear up our precious fences even more than our hungry cows...we borrowed a bull two years ago, it worked fine...the calves were great and when he got bored he went home...this year we are probably going to have to 'feed lot' for the bulk of the winter...and hay is dear, very dear right now...and I don't really have what I need....hence the AI questions..if he could just come and do his job in a week or so that would be super...but seems like he would need to stay at least two months to be sure everyone caught...if I just knew someone who wanted to bring me a tractor trailer load of hay from up north.....that would be so wonderful, someone I can afford that is...we are just taking it one day at a time right now...

DJ in WA · #10 10/30/07, 11:35 PM

You could contact a vet to see if they do it, or if they know who does. I found a dairy nearby who was willing - they can use some cash. They store my semen in their nitrogen tank (extremely cold). Semen can keep nearly forever if maintained properly. I shopped the internet for semen from a bull I liked, and had it shipped here - took the shipping container over to the AI guy and he took out the straws and put them in his tank.

Shipping was over $70, so you don't want to order just one straw. I got ten, at $20 each, to spread shipping cost out per straw. Have done 5 breedings, and all were successful. I'll never do the bull thing again.

Nice to use the quality bull of your choice, not just one that happens to live nearby. You want to use a bull that's been around a while and proven to have few/no faults, from a reputable place.

willow_girl · #11 10/31/07, 06:32 PM

Quote:

"we stand behind every cow we service"

ROTFLMBO ... that's the funniest thing I've heard all day, thanks!

DJ in WA · #12 10/31/07, 10:35 PM

By the way, since we're gone during the day, I had the semen shipped to my work. Problem is, UPS sent it to a different office we have, then took it back when realized it was the wrong place. I was out on the road, and a few office gals spent quite a bit of time calling around for me trying to find out where my semen went - finally learned it was at UPS central in Spokane, where I had to go stand in line to get it.

Ladies at work still occasionally joke about the whole deal.

unclejae · #13 11/01/07, 06:22 PM

We bought two calves from a lady that used Sher's Dexter bull. One of the cows bred was a Semintal and the other was a Jersey. They turned out nice. Kept the Jersey cross heifer and butchered the Semintal cross steer. Don't underestimate the Dexters size when it comes to breeding.

James and Steph