artificial insemination process

[mikecoen]

I have two belted galloways that I'd like to have ai'd. What is the process of bringing them into season at the same time for efficiency purposes so I can have them inseminated at the same time and have calves born at about the same time? How do I know if they "took"? I have someone to check with who does this locally whom I would hire, but I want to know a little more about the process before getting into it further and I know some of you are knowledgeable about these things. Thanks for your help.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

Usually you would synchronize them with a hormone-variant like Estrumate or Lutylase, both which can be purchased at your local feed store or vet clinic. Injecting them with this will bring them into heat at the same time, though I think that it may take a couple doses to get them completely synchronized. Of course once you get them bred at the same time they'll typically calve not exactly at the same time, but very close with each other.

You'll know they are settled by two ways: 1) they don't come back into heat after 21, 45, 90, etc. days after being serviced, or 2) you preg-check them at 90 days after breeding via rectal palpation or have a blood-test done on them a week or so after they "took."

 

[jhm47]

Threre are nearly 30 synchronization protocols for cattle. Some work better than others. Personally, I like the MGA method best for heifers, and CIDR's for cows that have calved. Both methods have worked well in the past for me and my customers. There are many variations on each method. It depends a lot on the tech that does the inseminations, the condition and temperament of the cows, and the handling of the semen after collection. Good luck!

 

[mikecoen]

this will be the 3rd pregnancy for the cow and the first for her first calf, now 15 months old. I am thinking of MGA for 14 days then prostaglandin for both in order to keep things simple, though I heard that the implant is better for cows. The tech whom I would hire simply uses the prostaglandin and watches for heat in 72 hours.

 

[jhm47]

The MGA protocol will work, but be sure to bear in mind that the heat after the 14 days is a mostly infertile one. You need to wait 17 days after the feeding of the MGA, inject with Lutalyse, and then breed on signs of heat. It also helps to give a shot of ovacyst or cysterellen at breeding. Found that this method works best for heifers, but it also works for non-lactating cows as well. This method takes about 33 - 35 days from start to finish, so it requires some advance planning. You should achieve around a 65 - 75% preg rate with it, if done correctly. Good luck!

 

[mikecoen]

Just did it. Tuesday at 1pm we gave a shot of prostaglandin, (5cc IM) and this morning our cow was in standing heat. The virgin heifer did not appear to be standing in heat but upon papation we did see the important clear discharge. We had a Vet prescribe the Lutalyse and administer the shots as we had no relationship with a vet being only newbies. That cost $111. The good man I found to do the AI had been the one to advise me in the whole process and he was quite pleased that the two were synchonized so well. We paid him $100 because he had an hour and a half drive time round trip to help us. So, we're please and I'll post again when we either confirm that they have "settled" or that we are repeating the process. We got our semen from Randy Hall in Maine who still had some semen from E&H Joshua. Oh, and the chute I made worked great and they were used to going into it by practice the last two weeks. Thanks to you all for your interest and help.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Update?

 

[Dean.Collins]

Update?

lol yep after reading this i was after an answer as well

How many ranchers do their own AI? I can imagine at $100 a visit here and there it would make sense pretty quick to learn how to do it yourself..... (also cant you freeze the sperm for long series of time? eg is it possible to buy 10 straws and use 5 now and 5 in a year from now for 5 separate cows?

 

[BrownSheep]

AI is super common here. The local jr college actually offers a class that only goes for a couple days for certification.

You can keep straws for pretty good chunks of time but the cost buy your own nitroglycerin tank can be pretty steep

 

[Royd Wood]

Update?

lol yep after reading this i was after an answer as well

What do you expect - they are Galloways so they calved