Heifer/Pregnancy

[Rocktown Gal]

I have a heifer that will be 4 in May and she has not gotten pregnant yet...the bull has been with her everyday for the last 14 months. What could the problem be. She was not a twin...so do not think she is a free martin...if she has no problems can a vet give her a shot to help her along or is it better just to make beef out of her.

I do have a heifer that was a twin but the twin was another heifer...do you foresee any problems with her?

Thanks!

[lakeportfarms]

If she's a non Highland or crossbreed, it's very late and if the bull has been servicing your other cows alright, there's likely a problem. She could have been a twin with the male fetus aborted early in the pregnancy.

This is a link to a lab that tests for freemartins, you could have both checked. If both come back negative, you could have a vet check the one that isn't bred to see if the "plumbing" seems to be ok in the one and hang on for another 6 months or so (if it's a Highland). We've had Highlands calve at 4 years old for the first time.

[lakeportfarms]

Link:

http://www.agrigenomicsinc.com/forms.html

[willow_girl]

The F/F twin isn't at risk of problems from that combination.

Has the bull bred other cows? You're sure he's doing his job?

If the problem isn't with the bull, I'd have the vet sleeve her to check for a pregnancy or reproductive tract abnormalities. But if she's still open after 14 months, I'd say the odds are not in her favor, sadly.

[lakeportfarms]

Link:

http://www.agrigenomicsinc.com/forms.html

[Rocktown Gal]

Originally Posted by lakeportfarms

If she's a non Highland or crossbreed, it's very late and if the bull has been servicing your other cows alright, there's likely a problem. She could have been a twin with the male fetus aborted early in the pregnancy.

This is a link to a lab that tests for freemartins, you could have both checked. If both come back negative, you could have a vet check the one that isn't bred to see if the "plumbing" seems to be ok in the one and hang on for another 6 months or so (if it's a Highland). We've had Highlands calve at 4 years old for the first time.

Yep...she's a highland...no crossbreed. Thanks for the link...I will check it out.

[Rocktown Gal]

Originally Posted by willow_girl

The F/F twin isn't at risk of problems from that combination.

Has the bull bred other cows? You're sure he's doing his job?

If the problem isn't with the bull, I'd have the vet sleeve her to check for a pregnancy or reproductive tract abnormalities. But if she's still open after 14 months, I'd say the odds are not in her favor, sadly.

Yes, the bull has been doing his job. We have had 3 born this year...we have 5 heifer/cows. Only this one I am talking about above and the twin has not gotten pregnant...but the twin is only 14 months old. Although another 14 month old had a bull calf in September.

[G. Seddon]

Rocktown Gal, regarding your last post, do you mean you are breeding them at 14 months or are they calving at 14 months? I think Highlands mature later than some other breeds, don't they?

Regarding the 4 year old heifer, it might be useful to have a vet preg check them (or use Biopryn blood tests) a couple of months after putting the bull with them; that way you pinpoint a problem, if there is one, earlier.

[Rocktown Gal]

Originally Posted by G. Seddon

Rocktown Gal, regarding your last post, do you mean you are breeding them at 14 months or are they calving at 14 months? I think Highlands mature later than some other breeds, don't they?

Regarding the 4 year old heifer, it might be useful to have a vet preg check them (or use Biopryn blood tests) a couple of months after putting the bull with them; that way you pinpoint a problem, if there is one, earlier.

Let me clear this up. She had the bull calf when she was 22 months old. Not sure why I had 14 on the brain. That was an error on my part. 2 heifers were born Nov 2010...so they were 24 months this past November.

Came back to add...that I purchased the fold on November 19, and she had her bull calf on Sept 1...I think she was bred when I purchased her.

[SteveO]

Sorry but the numbers are still wacky a heifer born nov 2010 is today only 14 months.
And a cow puchased on Nov 19 that was bred already and confirmed bred would have had her calf before Sep 1. If the deed was done on Nov 1 ( which is about the latest day to get a confirmation by the 19th) a due date of Aug 11 comes up
It sure gets confusing fast.
Steve

[kycrawler]

Put the 4 year old in the freezer let the young heifer go another year make sure you have plenty of loose mineral out where they can get all they want . I bought most of my jersey herd from amish farms when they wouldnt breed most were right back on track after a good heavy worming and free choice mineral/salt and a little grain . You can have the vet give hormone shots but you could well be passing on fertility problems to the next generation as well . Cull the dud non breeder cow . Sometimes you have to make the tough choice