From large purebred beef producers to the homestead family cow,
we can help you achieve your breeding goals for your herd.
Things to know...
Pregnancy rates with AI can be similar to those with natural service, with a very good success rate being 70%. Keep in mind that a bull may get at least 3 chances to breed a cow over the average breeding season and still not achieve 100% conception rate within the herd. Skill of the technician is just one of the many factors contribute to a successful breeding. Fertility in an AI program is a product of female fertility, semen fertility, inseminator skill and timing of AI. The importance of body condition, postpartum interval, pubertal status and nutrition cannot be overemphasized. Heifers should be approximately 65% to 70% of expected mature weight and cows should be at least 50 days postpartum and both should be on an increasing plane of nutrition. A full cattle handling system is not necessary for a cow trained to stand in a headgate or milking stanchion, but any handling stress must be minimized as it can impair ovulation. Estrus synchronization and AI typically compliment good management, but rarely replace it. Good planning and attention to detail are essential.
If you feel AI would be right for your herd, or have any more questions about how we can make this work for you, please get in touch!
Breeding on Natural Heats
Good heat detection is critical for successful AI. Observe for standing heat at least 30 minutes three times a day. Early morning, late afternoon, and evening are the best times for heat detection. The average duration of standing heat is 8 hours, and studies show an average of 70% of cows exhibit standing heat between 7pm and 7 am. Use of a detection patch can assist you. If you only observe twice a day during feeding time, you may miss it! A Bull will breed a cow upon entering standing heat, but for Artificial Insemination, the rule of thumb is breeding 12 hours after standing has commenced. The a.m.-p.m. rule was developed as a guide. Cows first seen in standing heat in the morning (a.m.) would be inseminated in the afternoon (p.m.) and those observed standing in the evening would be bred the next morning. The average cycle for the cow is 21 days. If you would like to breed on natural heat, it is best to start tracking their heats before you would like to breed them, so that we can estimate the next standing heat and make a plan.
For signs of heat click
Fixed Time Breeding
Timed breeding can be advantageous to producers as it reduces the time and labour required for heat detection, as well as multiple farm call fees. It is also helpful when circumstances make heat detection difficult, such as not having a second cow to 'ride' the cow coming into heat. Use of natural hormones allows us to manipulate the cow's cycle so that heat detection is not necessary, and we can easily breed a large group of cattle at the same time. All drug products used in synchronization programs in Canada require a prescription from a veterinarian. Therefore, it is your responsibility to obtain a prescription for specific products from your livestock vet, but I will happily work with you to develop a timed breeding program that works best for you and assist with administering products when necessary.