Author Topic: PD'ing time again (Read 5086 times)

waterbuffalofarmer · « **on:** July 21, 2016, 01:39:36 pm »

Well last time when I did the milk sample test and then PD'd via the vet he confirmed the milk test results, only one in calf. Anyway since then the young bulls we have, have been telling us when the cows are ready and we have be AI'ing according to that, previous programme never worked. It turns out that the young bulls are not even working as they keep going over the cows again and again, very fustrating for us, we decided to give them a chance as AI wasn't working. We have done the milk test again and as it turns out the same result, only 1 has gotten into calf. We are going to get the vet to confirm, but this is a disaster. Dad said he is going to get the straws tested in case its low fertility, due to this we are having to import a load more buffalo to keep milk up through the winter and spring, until our current ones calve next summer. We are milking all year around now, so it doesn't help to have a big gap in calving does it? We needed to import more anyway as we didn't have enough buffaloes on farm, but now it is a necessity. Now I am going to just have to find the money and borrow the rest from the bank to pay for them, them being more expensive because of leaving the EU. Why does this have to happen in our most busiest year?

Sorry for the rant guys I felt I had to let it out.

Alex_ · « **Reply #1 on:** July 21, 2016, 02:12:56 pm »

Not to sound like a fool but what does PD'd mean?

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #2 on:** July 21, 2016, 02:26:05 pm »

Quote from: Alex_ on July 21, 2016, 02:12:56 pm

Not to sound like a fool but what does PD'd mean?

No not at all it means Pregnancy diagnosis

landroverroy · « **Reply #3 on:** July 21, 2016, 11:04:58 pm »

It seems strange to me, not so much that the AI was unsuccessful, but that the young bulls weren't successful either.
In 30 years of keeping cattle, I've never had a young bull fail! I've used many of them as young as 8 months and they've got my cows pregnant in the first month of working.
So I would be inclined, with such a high failure rate, to suspect that the fault was in your cows, - maybe a mineral deficiency or infection?

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2016, 01:12:12 am »

Quote from: landroverroy on July 21, 2016, 11:04:58 pm

It seems strange to me, not so much that the AI was unsuccessful, but that the young bulls weren't successful either.
In 30 years of keeping cattle, I've never had a young bull fail! I've used many of them as young as 8 months and they've got my cows pregnant in the first month of working.
So I would be inclined, with such a high failure rate, to suspect that the fault was in your cows, - maybe a mineral deficiency or infection?

They are all kept very healthy and are given extra feed even in summer when milking. Its happening with the original herd though as well as the imports and thats not usual $:-\$ I will get them checked over. The bulls are 18 months old and may only just be about to work. Thanks for the input though I will definately try and get some trsts done to see whats wrong.

adamhfc · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2016, 08:16:36 am »

Nosy question lol do they mature later than other bovines

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2016, 09:02:03 am »

Quote from: adamhfc on July 22, 2016, 08:16:36 am

Nosy question lol do they mature later than other bovines

Yes they do. They are a different species although listed under bovine they are actually bubalis, bubalis whereas cattle are bovine. we dont put ours in calf until 24 months, as they take a lot longer to get up to size.

adamhfc · « **Reply #7 on:** July 22, 2016, 06:36:10 pm »

Thank you they do interest me sadly don't have land or I would be tempted

Buttermilk · « **Reply #8 on:** July 22, 2016, 08:41:22 pm »

Do you have lots of clover? I know that with sheep and horses too much clover reduces conception.

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #9 on:** August 01, 2016, 01:28:04 pm »

Quote from: landroverroy on July 21, 2016, 11:04:58 pm

In 30 years of keeping cattle, I've never had a young bull fail! I've used many of them as young as 8 months and they've got my cows pregnant in the first month of working.
So I would be inclined, with such a high failure rate, to suspect that the fault was in your cows, - maybe a mineral deficiency or infection?

Actually, our current bull, purchased at 14 months, was not stopping the cows, so we got the vet to look at him. He found nothing wrong with the sperm, or the bull, just that the sperm count was very very low. No sign that he'd been ill, nothing wrong with the sperm that were there. So just he was, to everyone's surprise, a little bit too immature to work just yet. We gave him time, used AI in the meantime, and he started to stop the cows a few months later. He's been a really super bull ever since, so we were glad we gave him time.

Doesn't help you at all, wbf. Sorry to hear about your troubles.

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #10 on:** August 01, 2016, 01:46:45 pm »

NP sally its just one of those years

I am trying to import some more atm to fill up the gap in calving which we will have, so hopefully all will be well soon. I am starting to AI them again, so far 2 have taken but I think I might get the bulls tested to make sure, plus the AI sperm too. I have a horrible feeling that it could be the cows themselves though, maybe their fertility isn't as good as it could be? I was thinking of getting the quality of pasture tested to see if any nutrients are lacking at all. Has anyone else had any probelms at all though?