question on AI ing

[mnmlowline]

This may be a dumb question... But cut a newby some slack!  I was told to not waste Semen breeding back My Heifers after there first calf> Has anybody else heard of this? I was told the conception rate is very low. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks

 

[chambero]

Not very low, but it will be 10-15% lower than any other age class

 

[jbw]

About 60-65% is all I can get on the wet 2's.  I don't use high dollar semen on these.

 

[Bulldaddy]

Depends on the heifer and the situation. This year,  I was able to get all my first calf heifers bred back with first service AI. Biggest problem is getting them to cycle back after calving.  Last year I had several that I couldn't get bred back.  We have lots of grass this year and I think that made a big difference. 

 

[Show Heifer]

I guess it depends on your managment and your heifers.
I AI my second calf heifers and expect them to stick. Sometimes they do, sometimes not. I DO expect them to breed in the 2 cycles, regardless of  who or what is breeding them...
I select heifers for fertility and maternal ability though, so I might have higher expectations than some?
So I would say, go ahead and treat them as you would cows.... that way, if you are building a herd, you will get the heifers with the best fertility.
Just my thoughts....

 

[mnmlowline]

Thank you all so much. All of my heifer/ cows have bred back easily in the past and even moved up the calving dates. I was a little concerned when told I would get less than 20% conception rate!,  glad I asked and again, thanks for cutting Newbie some slack!!!