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maryjane
7072 Posts
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 Posted - Jan 06 2017 : 09:17:52 AM
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We AIed our pint-sized Lacy Lou again for the third try this morning at 8:30 a.m. She was in standing heat yesterday around 4 p.m. I'm willing to try AI with her 5, maybe 6 times. We'll know in 21 days if this morning's session took. Every time we've tried AI, Lacy Lou has had plenty of mucous (facilitates sperms' ability to swim uphill) and our AI technician has said Lacy Lou felt ready and receptive.
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First step was to clean her backend.
And then clean it again.
Then get into our tank and pull out a straw of semen.
And put it into warm water to thaw it.
Then use her tail as leverage to put a gloved hand into the rectum so the cervix can be pulled and straightened out to allow for the tube to be inserted all the way through the cervix and into the uterus.
Hand the tail off.
Get the tube in all the way and then push the plunger.
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MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jan 06 2017 : 2:42:16 PM
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| can't wait to hear in 21 days that you have another calf on the way! |
_(199x300)_(66x100).jpg?v 93697001) Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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Posted - Jan 07 2017 : 11:11:25 AM
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| Hope this time it takes! Great pictures. Can you tell us more about your tank? What sort of upkeep is necessary for it? Do you think you'll ever take over and actually do the AI-ing yourself? |
Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Jan 08 2017 : 4:20:53 PM
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| I have a smallish tank (MVE 11/17) that I use to transport nitrogen from WSU back to here so I don't have to load my precious semen stored in my bigger tank (MVE SC 20) into the back of the car, plus it's a heavy tank. It's in my milking parlor and will forever stay there. I just pour the contents (liquid nitrogen) of the smaller tank into the larger tank. I don't think I'll add AI to my list of some days any time soon. I've found someone who is very good (small arms, talented, and experienced) so I'm happy to go that route. Although, I think both Julie or Connie would be very good at AI so I've suggested they give it a try sometime and I will cheer them on:) |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jan 09 2017 : 07:00:59 AM
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| i like the PINK glove, nice touch ;> |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jan 11 2017 : 09:40:02 AM
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| maryjane, do you use one semen tube or two? just wondering. perhaps this has been answered around here before but i can't remember. i know janet is AIing also so any comments from anyone are appreciated. |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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NellieBelle
11214 Posts
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Posted - Jan 11 2017 : 10:40:11 AM
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| Hello Miss Cindy. I've only used one straw with each AI. And, where I'm a "take what comes when it comes." I don't get to worked up about if it doesn't take the first or second, third time. AI has worked out just fine this way for us. This time Sienna took first time and Nellie the second. When I was first getting started, I got anxious about it, but not anymore. It all works out just fine. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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farmlife
1413 Posts
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Posted - Jan 11 2017 : 2:33:01 PM
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| Cindy, the very first time we AIed Elli we ended up using 2 straws of semen. The first AI tech felt confident that the first straw did not go where she wanted it to as Elli shifted on her. The vet was scheduled to come that afternoon for something else anyway that we had to put off because Elli was in heat, so she went ahead and did another straw. Neither took. I think if it is going to work it will and if not, you try again later. |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Jan 12 2017 : 01:47:43 AM
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Right now with Lacy Lou, I'm only doing one straw. WSU liked doing two, one in the morning, and one later in the day around 4 p.m., but it didn't seem to help really.
I feel like I'm in the process of getting uber familiar with LLs cycle while amping up my intuition about it so why waste straws? I'm feeling pretty good about this last AI with her. Besides, sometimes the perfect time to do it seems to fall in the middle of the night or around 4 a.m. This last one felt like good timing. We shall see.
I've been wondering lately about basal temperature for a cow. For most of my adult life, my form of birth control was to take my basal temperature: Fertility Awareness-Based Method (FAM). It was flawless, really, once I knew what I was doing. Eventually, I taught FAM classes. First, I spent about eight months taking my temp every morning before getting out of bed and writing it on a chart. After that I'd just casually take my temp and know and even feel when I was ovulating and planned my pregnancies around it. So I was wondering if I could do the same with a cow? When I have time, I'm going to treat myself to some cow anatomy/hormone lessons. Fascinating stuff, truly. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jan 12 2017 : 05:40:07 AM
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| and is anyone using CIDR prior to AI session? Elsa is spot on with being in heat, but Sally i can NEVER tell when she is in heat. my calendar for elsa is 12 months of detail, my calendar for sally is about 3 months of notes as i can't tell anything at all... i pay so much attention to her hind end i feel the poor girl gets a complex at times. |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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NellieBelle
11214 Posts
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Posted - Jan 12 2017 : 07:54:59 AM
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| No, not using CIDR. Being around the cows so much I don't have difficulty telling when they are in heat. Timing is more of an issue here, and that's more to do with when the AI guy can come to do the procedure. I'm at his mercy and schedule. ;) A different AI guy I had at the beginning suggested it's (CIDR)use, but I refused. Just personal preference. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Jan 12 2017 : 09:10:25 AM
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| Cindy, with Sally, her indication of estrus was the others being interested in her and then afterward I'd see a bit of spotting. But she doesn't moo or try to mount the others. She was very Victorian about it all. But given you're not able to pinpoint it like with Elsa, you might consider CIDR. Contrary to what WSU contends, my current AI technician says administering hormone protocol decreases the likelihood of a take somewhat--nothing dramatic. He also does a shot of Cystorelin immediately afterward. For the most part, I think it's wise to go with what your AI technician prefers because that alone just has to increase the likelihood of a take. The guy I'm using now learned from his mother who did it for many years. He's really good. And he doesn't like hormone protocol. I feel like I finally hit pay dirt with him. He was even willing to come on Thanksgiving Day if need be--didn't blink an eye. And he has to drive 1.5 hours one way to get here. But he's worth it. I've tried everyone else around here and it didn't feel right. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jan 12 2017 : 10:30:17 AM
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thanks maryjane for the encouragement. i normally prefer to do things the old fashion way and interfere as little as possible, but then again we ARE doing AI - aren't we??!! i was researching CIDR to ensure there wasn't a lot of bad side effects and feedback on it, and just can't find that so i am feeling better about it.
out AI tech prefers using CIDR, so i'll take photos when we start the process and outline the dates. He places the CIDR, we give a shot after the CIDR is placed for a few days, and then we'll pull the CIDR out, and then he'll come back to do the AI. So two trips for him and we do the rest. He said even newbies have no issues with doing their part of the process. I figure even if one of the gals took the first time i would be pleased as punch about it. |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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AI session
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