Question for setting up cow for embryo

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firesweepranch

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Jun 17, 2010
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1,685
Location
SW MO
OK, we usually work off of natural heats since we have so few cows. The ONE cow we have that is not halter broke and a pain to work with calved the end of January, and about 45 days ago we put an embryo in her (had to haul her out since we did not have a chute at the time). Yesterday took her to vet to preg check since I have not seen her stand, but did notice her tail chalk was rubbed one day last week (never observed her standing, and we check three times a day minimum). OPEN! Bummer. So, what protocol do you use to set her up for an embryo? Would you set her up like when you AI (GNRH, CIDR 7 days, Lute, GNRH when standing)? I need to get an embryo in her before she gets too far behind!
Our embryologist will be out Tuesday to put an embryo in another cow (off a natural heat), so I can ask him then. I just do not want to bug him over Easter weekend, and was wondering what everyone else does.
Thanks
 

OH Breeder

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Feb 14, 2007
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Location
Ada, Ohio
firesweepranch said:
OK, we usually work off of natural heats since we have so few cows. The ONE cow we have that is not halter broke and a pain to work with calved the end of January, and about 45 days ago we put an embryo in her (had to haul her out since we did not have a chute at the time). Yesterday took her to vet to preg check since I have not seen her stand, but did notice her tail chalk was rubbed one day last week (never observed her standing, and we check three times a day minimum). OPEN! Bummer. So, what protocol do you use to set her up for an embryo? Would you set her up like when you AI (GNRH, CIDR 7 days, Lute, GNRH when standing)? I need to get an embryo in her before she gets too far behind!
Our embryologist will be out Tuesday to put an embryo in another cow (off a natural heat), so I can ask him then. I just do not want to bug him over Easter weekend, and was wondering what everyone else does.
Thanks

YOu put an egg in off her first natural heat after calving? If she calved end of January 30-45 days usually they will have first heat. So at that time you put an egg in? If so, i would say it might have been too soon. If you are not using CIDRS or hormones and natural heats only I would be concerned about wasting money and egg if you were not sure she was in heat one week prior to her placing an egg. You are using chalk alone no patch for heat detection?
just as an FYI, a squeeze chute was the BEST investment I ever made. watch for them used and even craigs list. I bought mine on sale at Tractor supply. Its been great for 10 years.
 

JWW

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Oct 6, 2009
Messages
245
All our recips are on the CIDR protocal similar to what you described.. works great. and only one trip to the ET tech - save fuel


JWW
 

firesweepranch

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Messages
1,685
Location
SW MO
OH Breeder said:
[YOu put an egg in off her first natural heat after calving? If she calved end of January 30-45 days usually they will have first heat. So at that time you put an egg in? If so, i would say it might have been too soon. If you are not using CIDRS or hormones and natural heats only I would be concerned about wasting money and egg if you were not sure she was in heat one week prior to her placing an egg. You are using chalk alone no patch for heat detection?
just as an FYI, a squeeze chute was the BEST investment I ever made. watch for them used and even craigs list. I bought mine on sale at Tractor supply. Its been great for 10 years.
She calved Jan 22, was in standing heat 46 days after calving. A good, standing heat for about 12 hours. I never saw a heat after that, and when she passed over her first cycle without observed heat and no tail chalk rub (mind you, she is hard to chalk... got to get her head in a grain bucket and sneak up on her!). Then, around the time of her second pass over, I noticed her tail chalk gone in the morning. I heat check before dusk, at about 7:15, and around noon. I never saw her stand, but figured I need to find out if she stuck or not. We have put an egg in at 45 days and not had problems, and the ET guy thought it would be OK. So now I want to try again. We only use chalk since we check so often. Our girls are very readable, most I can tell are coming in about 12 hours before they start getting frisky! Just the way they act, some are vocal and restless, some are stuck to you like glue! Plus, we show several so I do not like using the patch.
I did order my chute. I have been scanning Craig's list for about 4 months now, nothing close enough to go buy. I talked with several breeders around here and several use Orbit, and they are about 30 minutes from us so I ordered it last week. I will have it by the end of next week so I will not have to haul her out. All of our cows we just put halters on and walk them in the grooming chute to breed or put embryo in! So having a cow that you can not do that with made me realise how much I need one!
I guess I'll just ask our ET guy....
 

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