hows preg testing coming?

[diesel]

Just wondering how everyone is getting along pregin this fall. Did ours wednesday, Ran 795 thru in 8 hours and came up with only 69 opens. Bulls were in only 45 days. Was really worried about this summer, with no grass and very hot weather. Good black bulls did their job again!!! Hope everyone has good luck to. Cows start calving April 1. Have had a lot better luck on conception rate with moving calving back to April from Feb. Wondering if many people start calving in May or the middle of May, and how you get along with it. I would like to move calving to May, as our place has nearly any natural protection, good yearling and short grass country, but hard calving early.

 

[Faster horses]

Congratulations!! That is a great breed-up.

I know a guy over by Ekalaka that is going to May-June calving.
He's planning on enjoying it. Calved in April, but still got caught
in the spring storms.

 

[Shorthornguy]

Some of the cow-calf guys here like early calving. I finish everything I raise and like calving in May and June when I have warmer weather and grass.

 

[John SD]

I have been calving in late April-May the last several years and wouldn't go back to early spring calving. Turn the bulls in July 10. I'm getting too old to fight cold weather and snowstorms at calving time.


Hardest part is keeping the bulls contained until July! The cows winter easier on lower quality feed and the grass is coming on when calves hit the ground. The calves get right up and get going, sometimes hard to catch them to tag and give a 7-way shot. I've noticed less scour problems than early born calves that are stressed by cold and wet weather.

 

[CattleArmy]

Preg checked here and had only one replacement heifer turn up open!

 

[IL Rancher]

Had 21 turn up open out of 380 I think.. Bulls were out for 50 days.. most of the opens were either cows that had calved late or heifers that had raised huge calves and just didn't have enough condition.. Could see the opens coming from a mile away..

Culled 24 on other things such as being old and ornery but I need to pull out a few more.. 15 more need to go, time to go hunting for them in the pasture for bags that look to loose and the mighty, giant S brand that donates those cows are coming 11's.. I am way to much a softy... As I was culling a few oldies I felt so bad... They just walked out of the chute nice and gentle, mossied over to the pen with the others that are shipping and never jumped or fought at all. Times like that I wonder how I can become so attatched to a cow I barelyspend anytime with except pregging and vaccinating. Oh well, as the vet told me it is not to late to change my mind about it but...

Had a couple adventures, including a cow going up and getting caught by the roap ties on top of the chute... Cut into her arm pit area and we had to bring a tractor in to lift her off... Old cow, don't know why she jumped like that, I think the gal behind her goosed her or something.

 

[CattleArmy]

The other cows tested well too with 10 open out of close to 400. Our calving date is around the 15th of March but we are considering moving that date so we can do more embryo transfer work. Didn't this year but it's a thought for next. Doing embryo transfer for bull producers leaves them wanting February calves. Moving up calving a month. However the premium for the calves and guarantee of the price leads one to think that possibly calving earlier isn't such a big deal.

 

[Shortgrass]

I have been calving in late April-May the last several years and wouldn't go back to early spring calving. Turn the bulls in July 10. I'm getting too old to fight cold weather and snowstorms at calving time.


Hardest part is keeping the bulls contained until July! The cows winter easier on lower quality feed and the grass is coming on when calves hit the ground. The calves get right up and get going, sometimes hard to catch them to tag and give a 7-way shot. I've noticed less scour problems than early born calves that are stressed by cold and wet weather.

Me tinks U R Xactley korect(-3 on spelling)

 

[Cowpuncher]

Finished preg-checking today. Had 44 opens out of 732, or 6%.

 

[Ben H]

Drew blood on Sunday, glad someone mentioned it. I'm using the BioPRYN test from BioTracking. Should have the results any day now. My vet is excited to see how this works because it would take a load off her. She covers a huge area and this is one thing that could help.

 

[PureCountry]

We've been calving June-July for 3 years now, and we love it. Bulls go out on the 10th-15th of August. Calve on 160 acres, half bush-half tame grass meadow.

 

[badroute]

Had 4% open with the bulls only being out 45 days. It took a load off my shoulders, I was afraid of a wreck with the hot summer and poor quality of the grass. I guess something had to go right after the claves were 55 pounds lighter than last year.

 

[Jassy]

I'll let ya all know how we our results turnout tomorrow. We're doing a little over 600 head. Glad to read that although with the hot summer, you're numbers are still good! Hope it's that way for us too. We also run bulls for 45 days, and start calving around the 20th of March. Our AI'd 1st calf heifers will start the 20th of Feb. Hopefully we get them done and out of the way before the cows start. So wish us luck! I just wish it was warmer cause sittin with the laptop all day at the chute,,,I get cold! I know...what a weanie I am!

 

[Sagebrush]

Had 8% open this year..little higher than past years but not to bad considering the year

 

[Anonymous]

Had 8% open this year..little higher than past years but not to bad considering the year

Haven't tested any yet- but I did get a chance to talk to several that run in my area today that have tested-- They been running about 9%- usually average 5-7%- but they were all happy as hot and dry as it was this summer....I'm wondering what some of the ones in the really rough dry country that normally run 9-10% are going to do this year? some had to wean a month or month and half early and sell calves 100-125 lbs lighter- Wonder if they'll be in the 15-20% open again :???:

 

[Jassy]

Well I finally had time to update this post...our preg ckecking went really good last week, despite a few mechanical glitches..lol We ended up culling 82 head out of 660...very few opens, mostly old cows, bad bags, no teeth, bad hips...etc. Still got 300+ yet to check this week. So I think we also lucked out this year and the critters bred up well!

Pushing Cows into Alley to work.

Hubby puttin on the Sleeve with help

Aaron's turn to check for Tonsils...lol

After a long days work..traveling home..Yes that is a dog riding on the ATV..don't worry he rides like that everywhere and has never fallen off, even cruising down the highway...He luvs it!

 

[PureCountry]

I always figured that's how you knew if a pup was gonna be a keeper or not. The ones dumb enough to jump the fenders aren't worth keeping, if they stay in the box calm, cool and collected, they're a good'un. :wink:

 

[Nicky]

Great pictures once again! Glad your preg checking is going well.

 

[Hanta Yo]

Well I finally had time to update this post...our preg ckecking went really good last week, despite a few mechanical glitches..lol We ended up culling 82 head out of 660...very few opens, mostly old cows, bad bags, no teeth, bad hips...etc. Still got 300+ yet to check this week. So I think we also lucked out this year and the critters bred up well!

Pushing Cows into Alley to work.

Hubby puttin on the Sleeve with help

Aaron's turn to check for Tonsils...lol

After a long days work..traveling home..Yes that is a dog riding on the ATV..don't worry he rides like that everywhere and has never fallen off, even cruising down the highway...He luvs it!

I LOVE :heart: the way you push cows into the alley to work....ON FOOT. We do too!!!

 

[Heel Fly]

We had 11 dries on 360, we will be doing the rest on sun.( hope God forgives me!!!) I was happy with that , hold your breath, that was the first time we had ever tested our cows, we always do our yearlings, but never our cows. I guess dad always felt they were doing their job and wintering a couple old bags was worth the lack of hassle. Poor old cows now they have a warden for a boss! Do your job or go somewhere else!! I hope our yrlings test well we used black bulls this year, and I am praying for a good turn out.