Dairy Heifer Dilemma. What would you do?

heinola honey · #1 10/20/09, 11:47 AM

Ok here's whats going on...I have a a full bred Jersey Heifer calf that will be 2 next month. She is out of my very first cow who has since passed away. I was hoping to eventually breed her for a replacement to her mother but because of different things that have happened in my life she was never worked with until this summer to get her gentle enough to have her AI'd. Well
the AI tech came out in Aug and serviced her. She came back into heat exactly 21 days later

. So the AI tech was called and serviced her again.
She just came back into heat again last week

I have questioned our vet about this. He said to try having her bull bred,that alot of times they settle that way better. I don't have a bull. It would mean I would have to find some one willing to let me bring her over so she can get bred and then wait and see if it worked. I already have two milk cows, so its more of an inconvience than anything. I was thinking about selling her bred, but thats not happening. I don't need meat as our freezer is full
So If you were me what would you do? Sell? Try to find a bull? Butcher?
Thanks,
Ruth

farmmaid · #2 10/20/09, 12:17 PM

Give her a chance to be bred by natural service. Jersey or small breed beef bull.

**gone-a-milkin** · #3 10/20/09, 12:44 PM

Find somebody to let you put her with their Angus bull.

heinola honey · #4 10/20/09, 12:50 PM

farmmaid,
The few dairys near here are all holstein....most of the beef guys have angus or what looks to be angus and I've seen some of there bulls

Do you think if I was to sell her as is would anyone buy her?

**gone-a-milkin** · #5 10/20/09, 12:52 PM

She would sure be worth more if she were bred.

MullersLaneFarm · #6 10/20/09, 01:07 PM

She might have a small window in which she conceives. If the AI guy gets there outside that window, you could spend a lot of $$ in AI. We've had 2 jerseys that we've had covered by a bull. We've always brought the bull to her and kept them together for 2 cycles. The first was a Dexter bull that was ringed and respected that ring. The rest have been young (10-13 month) jersey bulls. We've never had a lick of problem from any of the bulls.

L&Jfarms · #7 10/20/09, 03:40 PM

What part of Minnesota are you in?

heinola honey · #8 10/20/09, 05:09 PM

I live in West central Mn. north of Alexandria,Mn

heinola honey · #9 10/20/09, 05:23 PM

The AI Tech is the same one each time we call.....He has been doing it for years. This last time he said she was in the good time frame. I have spent only 64 dollars and the second time was sexed semen! I have had a young jersey bull here (her sire) and don't want to go that route again.
If I want to bring her somewhere, it might be another couple of months or more for everything to fall into place (husband works away from home alot), by then it would be middle of winter.
I wonder if I decided to sell her and explained that she could be bred by a bull but not AI
If she would sell that way?

blueberryhill · #10 10/20/09, 06:14 PM

When I first got into cattle and only had 2 cows to breed a neighbor lent me a yearling bull. He raise angus bulls to sell but usually sells them at 18-24 months old. He was glad to have a place to put one of his yearling bulls for a while. I fed him for a few months but it was worth it. I had thought to AI but the AI tech I know, who works for my vet, told me that AI doesn't have that great a success rate.

agmantoo · #11 10/20/09, 06:55 PM

At this time I have a jersey heifer in my beef herd. She had failed to AI twice and the dairy neighbor sold her to me cheap. I was going to butcher her this Fall. My bull bred her and she is already making a bag. If you sell the heifer as is she will bring meat price only.

NICC08 · #12 10/20/09, 07:33 PM

This heifer should have had a calf by now. A dairy animal should have it's first calf by 23-24 mos.

Get her in with a bull, get her confirmed bred, and head her down the road. If she sells as open you'll take a major shot in the shorts, especially now.

Farm 36 · #13 10/20/09, 10:01 PM

HH Breed the heifer to a cheap young sire or an angus bull using AI. Next breed her AI early and than 18 to 24 hours later. The first goal is to get her bred don't use sexed semen or an expensive bull just get her bred . When time is avilable take her to get natural service . No use on selling her the market is bad and you will just about give her away and now you are feeling the pain a having livestock don't give up .
Agman try selling the heifer back to the owner and you get the calf .