Disappointing preg check

[nkotb]

Pregged 7 cows yesterday, only 2 are bred.  Of the 5 that aren't bred, only saw two coming into heat.  AI'd on Dec. 5 and turned bull in the 12th.  Had bull checked and he checked out good, wondering what is going on.  These are cows we are leasing and they were open at fall preg check so we tried to turn them into fall calvers.  They are not that old, 5-10 years.  I realize there is a reason they weren't bred in the fall and we were taken a chance breeding them, but I still have to wonder why they are not even coming into heat?  Condition is not an issue, and if anything they are a little fat.

 

[Bulldaddy]

Really fat cows can be hard to breed.  If the cows were vaccinated for lepto, vibro, etc then you can rule out reproductive disease. Otherwise, it probably has a lot to do with genetics.

 

[savaged]

May be cystic if they are not cycling normally.  Call the vet.

 

[nkotb]

What exactly is cystic and how do they get to be cystic?

 

[kanshow]

Are they vaccinated for Lepto?  Brucellosis?   

 

[Jeferin]

Check into your mineral program.

Did the bull stick the two PG cows? If not try a different bull.

 

[savaged]

What exactly is cystic and how do they get to be cystic?

It is a large fluid filled structure on the ovary.  It is a common condition, with the most common symptom being lack of estrus cycle.  It can also result in abnormal cycle pattern.  It can be treated but your vet needs to diagnose first.  If your cows simply do not cycle and they appear otherwise healthy it needs to be considered.

 

[nkotb]

The bull did not stick any cows, however, only two of the 5 were cycling, the ones that are pregnant stuck to AI.  Mineral program is not a problem, cattle have free choice access to the nutritionist recommended mineral.  I am starting to wonder if they are not cystic.  Is this something the vet would have felt when he was preg checking them?  If so I think he would have said something when he pregged them.

 

[Cowboy]

I try not to get involved in too many "VET" related issues, but reproduction is all I have done for close to 30 years, having said that - here goes.

Simply calling a cow CYSTIC if she is not cycling is not entirely correct. Sometimes - depending on the type of Cyst, a cow may not cycle at all and just stop all signs of heat.

The most common type of cyst is Follicular -- caused by when the cow last cycled sh failed to ovulate and retained her follicle - with the egg init. Over time, this cyst will harden and get real thick walled, and start to secrete Cystosterone -- the female equivelant to Testosterone inmales. This causes the cow to be active all the time, and most will eventually start to get real agressive like a bull would. Even start to bellow and dig the ground.

The treatment for this is larger than normal doses of Gnrh given over several days to weeks.

The secondary cyst type is called a Leutial cyst. This occurs when the cows ovulates, but instead of opening up like a flower -- the follicle collapses onto itself -- and creats a sort of tent over the ovary. When the resulting CL grows to maturity -- it will give off very larges doses of Progesterone, which is the anti-heat hormone acting as if she were pregnant. This is easier to cure, but you do have to palpate her to make sure. A dose or two of Prostoglandins a couple weks apart usually does the trick.

If your three cows do not have these two conditios, then they are simply anestrous -- meaning they do not have sufficient hormone activiy to come into heat as they should. This could be caused by anything, nutrition is number one on the list -- too fat or wat too thin, then close behind if not ahead of that is your mineral program. Don't be fooled by what the "Nutritionist" simply reccomends -- they get paid to sell mineral and feed -- you do the math! Age will be a factor after they pass 10-12 -- so that may not be your cause. Also -- if you are in Fescue country -- you will need to REALLY increase your Magnesium levels to counteract the situation caused by the Endophytes in Fescue. Many folks on here know about that -- it is not good.

I wish you the best from here on -- it may be something very simple -- butif they are simply NOT cycling for you -- I would be extremely surprised if they are not due to being cystic. I hope this helps clarify the dillema of cystic cows.

Terry