Cattle
Collafirth Viking
Wednesday 7 September, 2011
Monday 5th September was 21days from Breeze's last AI. Her last cycle was 23 days, so my fingers are still crossed, but she is quiet so far.
Through the SCBA, I have the opportunity to take them both to another member to run with a young bull called Collafirth Viking. Our girls will be going up at the end of the week to run with him for 4 weeks or so. Blizzard, if she hasn't held to 2nd AI, will come back into heat around the 15th / 16th / 17th September.
He's such a handsome fellow, I almost hope she gets in calf to him - but simply a calf would be good.
Third time lucky?
Sunday 28 August, 2011
Just had Blizzard AI'd for the third time. I can now sympathise with women who are trying for a baby - the hope of thinking "this time" and the despondency when it turns out "not this time".
I am now confident that Breeze will come back into season next week. She'll get a third AI, because I've got semen left, but I'm trying through SCBA to hire a bull.
They can have two more goes, then we'll leave it until next year - another two cycles will take us to July calving and I don't want to have calves too late in the year, especially since they have been up to their knees in grass all spring.
Breeze is done too.
Monday 15 August, 2011
Breeze was AI'd for the second time today. She was bawling and restless yesterday, and the technician confirmed that she was well in season. This time we've used Stanemore Odin.
So we'll be watching Blizzard and Breeze carefully on the 30th August and 5th September, respectively, to see if they come back in season. If they hold to these services, they will calve on 19th and 26th May next year (or thereabouts).
I'm trying to be cool this time but I'm really excited.
Blizzard's done
Thursday 11 August, 2011
Blizzard was in season today (9th August), so she's been AI'd with Hengae Fearsome again. The AI technician suggested that one would be enough, as she's well in season and this time it's a natural one. That leaves me a straw in store in case she doesn't hold this time.
I'm expecting Breeze to come into season next week - fingers crossed.
Disappointment :-(
Wednesday 3 August, 2011
The vet's just been to scan our two Shetland heifers and neither is in calf. We're so disappointed. We were pretty sure Blizzard wasn't but thought Breeze was - but no.
Just off to order more semen - they should come back into season next week, so we'll try again. I think I'm going to use Hengae Fearsome for one and select a different bull for the other - so as not to put all our eggs in one basket.
The vet says both heifers are fine as far as an internal exam can tell - all the bits in the right place and so on, and they are in good condition, so hopefully all will be well this time.
Pregnant or not?
Thursday 21 July, 2011
Looks like Breeze might be in calf and Blizzard's not.
We'll get the vet to PD Breeze in two weeks and have Blizzard AI'd again in three weeks. I think we'll use the same bull, to keep it simple.
Bit disappointed that Blizzard is back in season, but, hey ho, that's smallholding for you.
TB testing
Monday 11 July, 2011
We received our TB testing notification today. We'll be required to test every 4 years - this time, we've to do it between 1st September and 30th November. I hope our wee crush is adequate :-)
The bull in the bowler hat
Thursday 30 June, 2011
Well, he didn't have a bowler hat, but the AI man was here yesterday to do the first insemination of our heifers. They were clearly bulling - Blizzard was mounting Breeze, who was standing for her - and they were quite frisky.
However, they did behave very well. The home-made crush worked fine and the AI man, Dave, said they were fully in season (but I'd worked that out). He'll be back today for a second insemination, then we'll watch for them coming in season in three weeks. If they don't, we'll have the vet to check them and confirm pregnancy in five weeks or so.
Almost synchronised
Friday 24 June, 2011
The vet was out today to give the heifers an injection of prostraglandin, as part of the preparation for AI. The progesterone which is being released into their systems now shuts down the oestrus cycle. The prostraglandin causes an egg to ripen and when the PRIDs are removed on Monday, the egg will start to progress and be released ready for fertilisation (hopefully) on Wednesday and Thursday.
To be honest, I haven't really considered what I'll do if they don't hold to this service. As I see it, I've got three options; Genus don't keep Shetland semen in stock, so I suppose I can use a bull that they keep in stock, if they come bulling in four weeks. Secondly, I can order Shetland semen in now, just in case, which will be fine if I can send it back if I don't need it. Or thirdly, if they do come back in season, let that cycle pass and catch them the next time with Shetland semen. All the options have pros and cons.
Breeze and Blizzard go to Carnoustie
Friday 24 June, 2011
Well, not quite but they were certainly heading that way.
Last night, I went to pick Dan up from the train station in Arbroath. When we arrived home, I set off to shut the hens in, but saw a man come up the drive with a dog. To be honest, I though the dog had run away. But no, the man had come to tell us that our cows were on the track, heading to the town. He know they were ours, because he walks his dog in the field next to us and they always go over to the fence for a "chat".
