breeding on first heats

[worthabit]

I wondered if you folks on here wait until the second heat after calving to breed or do you go on the first? Do you find any difference in conception?

We usually breed on the second as this usually allows you to either gain a bit of time or stay steady with last years calving dates. Sometimes if their first heat is 6 to 8 weeks after calving we will breed them as well.

 

[red]

it depends on how soon she comes in heat after calving. I had one that came in heat 30 days out. First time she didn't take to AI'ing. We've never had much trouble catching them on 1st heat otherwise.

Red

 

[jbw]

I have settled a cow one time 17 days after calving, but that was total luck. My cows usually cycle 4-5 weeks after calving, but unless I want to catch them up I wait until I want them to be bred. Wet two's as a rule don't cycle that quick, I'll A.I. once and turn bull in to get them settled and on the same page as the mature cow herd.

 

[CAB]

40 days post calving is kind of the rule of thumb, but I have put a cider in 30 days post on a late calver to try to catch her up. The 40-day post rule has been adopted by most AI companies.

 

[kanshow]

We don't usually try it unless we are trying to move one up.  But I know they can & do breed on that first heat and it can sure vary how soon they come back in.. 15 to ??? days

 

[justintime]

I have a cow in heat today that calved 17 days ago... but they were very long days with this nasty weather we have been having. I was quite surprised when I went out this morning and had 3 cows in raging heat... steam just rolling off them. One was 17 days since calving, the others were 24 days and 25 days. What really is surprising was that the cow cycling at 17 days had a very hard calving. Last year she had a 90 lb heifer calf. This year she had a 145 lb heifer calf that hip locked and I almost  tore her apart to get it out. This year's calf is a full sister to last years, so I am not sure what happened there.  I have never seen a calf that thick or long bodied. I lost it at birth. I could not keep it breathing. It would take a few breathes and then stop. Too much stress at birth I guess. This was the first calf from that bull that I have helped at birth with being the start of his third calf crop.

I have had several cows conceive at under 20 days. It is hard not to breed them when they are standing at the gate to the chute.I won't be breeding these cows today. I am not taking my coat off for any reason!

I have mentioned this before on here, in regards to a little experiment I did a few years ago with a set of 10 May calving cows. I used CIDRs for the third time in them, and all had strong heats. 9 of these cows calved in March the following year, so we moved them up big time.

 

[worthabit]

OK thanks for the comments

 

[cpubarn]

Those of you attempting to bring cows foward with a cidr.  Do you just use the cidr,  No other shots?