Friday, September 21, 2018

Tried and True Tips for Timed A.I.

Last week's Facebook post asking for tips in planning for your next timed artificial insemination (A.I.) project got beef producers sharing, so we are passing some of that fantastic knowledge on to you, our blog readers. Here is a recap and the seven categories the comments fell into. For the complete list of comments, check out our GENEX Beef Facebook page!

Timing 
"Timing is crucial! We make sure our shots are done exactly on time and likewise for insemination." - Emily Smith Castine











Planning
"Luck favors the prepared." - Kate Meyer

Weather
"As cool of weather as you can get. Early morning breeding, and let them relax." - Ryan Stoecklein

Fertility
"Research your bull choices and use those that you know have good conception or PregCheck™ ratings. It is the easiest way to boost conception." - Justine Ferguson

Animal Health
"Good body condition and good mineral program." - James Mullens

Communication
"A good team of people to work with! Communcations is key for everything to go smoothly." - Carrie Lynch

Set-up and Handling
"Handle cattle and semen carefully!" - Jeff Meyer

Friday, September 14, 2018

LIFEJACKET™ Calf Coats - Protect Your Future


The weather is getting cooler, harvest is in full swing and soon it will be time to pull out the calf coat tote. If you are like me, you had every intention of assessing your needs over the summer, but, poof, time just disappeared. So, there is no time like the present to talk to your GENEX representative about LIFEJACKET™ calf coats. These coats are the same great quality you have come to rely on from GENEX:

Waterproof outer lining with a quilted inner lining
Machine washable
Made in the U.S.



























And here is where the new and improved comes in. Our members and customers asked, and we listened:

Buckle front closure and buckle leg straps for easy on and off (No more straw, sawdust or sand clogging up those Velcro straps!)

Four sizes to fit all of your needs. Each color is a different size to make it easy for you to find the correct one: small-blue, medium-purple, large-teal and extra large-black.

Count on your GENEX representative to be the one-stop shop for all of your herd care needs.



Friday, September 7, 2018

Why Am I Not Finding Cows in Heat

One thing often heard while working with dairy farmers is "My cows are not showing heat and conceiving the way they should." So today, let's take a closer look at the issue and address factors affecting animals' ability to show heat.

First of all, one must determine if the problem exists throughout the entire herd or within a specific subgroup. To do this, analyze your dairy's computer record system. Specifically, look at records for reproduction and events that have happened by lactation or lactation group. Once the group in which the problem exists is determined, one will be better able to find possible causes and solutions, such as the following.


How does flooring affect cows showing heat?
Slippery floors can be a deterrent to cows exhibiting heats and can also cause injury to animals. Generally concrete is the most common flooring surface in dairy facilities. To make concrete flooring more cow-friendly, one could groove or scabble slippery floors. Caution must be used when using grooving or scabbling floor options, as not to make the surfaces too abrasive on hooves. Another option is to use grooved rubber belting or similar rubber products.

How does lameness affect cows showing heat?
Lameness causes stress on an animal. Lameness also tends to cause animals to lie down and eat less. Obviously, if an animal lies down more, it becomes more difficult to observe signs of heat. And, if an animal east less, lameness can cause a cow to lose body condition.

How does body condition loss affect cows showing heat?
A one point loss in body condition can inhibit an animal's ability to exhibit heat. Keeping the ration adequate to prevent body condition loss is critical. Remember a cow is a mother; she needs enough energy to produce milk (feed her calf) before she will want to reproduce again.

How does the ratio of open to pregnant cows affect cows showing heat?
The higher the number of pregnant cows in a pen the lower the amount of estrus that is shown; pregnant cows and cows in mid cycle are much less likely to mount cows in or near heat. A possible solution for this issue is to maintain a higher percentage of open cows within the breeding group.

How does transitioning affect cows showing heat?
The more metabolic problems an animal has when freshening, the greater probability of anestrus. According to research, clinical ketosis, dystocia and retained placentas are associated with more days to first service and a lower conception rate at first service. Overcrowding of transition groups may also lead to more metabolic problems at or after calving.

How does failure of proper observation for estrus affect cows in heat?
Some estimates place undetected heats on farms in the U.S. at 50%. One solution for the issue of failure to properly observe estrus may be to adequately train employees in heat detection technique. In regards to specific time frames for observing animals for heats, the proper time to observe animals in not while they are eating; instead, for best results, it should be every employee's job to make sure they observe animals at all times and properly identify the animals in heat. If herds are housed in stanchion barns, they need to be turned out daily, to conduct proper heat detection.


How does heat stress affect cows in heat?
Cows are harder to detect during times of extreme heat, and if you are able to catch them in heat, many have a hard time staying pregnant. A solution is to have a great heat abatement strategy, which may included sprinklers, fans, tunnel ventilated barns, or multiple water sources for cows on pasture.

In conclusion, there are many different factors that could cause a dairy producer to say, "My cows are not showing heat and conceiving the way they should." To overcome the obstacles, drill down through all layers to find the source of the problem - problems that could relate to the cows not showing heat or people not heat detecting correctly. There are also products available to aid in heat detection such as Reveal™ Livestock MarkersSCR Heatime® cow monitoring systems, heat detection workshops and protocol programs. Work with your local resources (veterinarian, GENEX representative, etc.) to determine your challenges and the fix that is right for your operation.

Sources available upon request.