AIing Cattle

Anonymous-0 · Sep 27, 2012

My son has a 4h project - a Brown Swiss heifer that we need to have bred. A neighbor uses artificial insemination with their herd but the only thing they have in stock in Holstein, we probably need to go a bit smaller with her first calf (Jersey, Brown Swiss or Angus). Is this something you can order? They will "do it" if we get the "product".

randallinMo · Sep 27, 2012

If your neighbor uses AI, he can definitely order a vial of a different breed. Just ask him about it.

Nate V. IA · Sep 27, 2012

Most of the Brown Swiss cows I have been around were bigger than Holsteins, I wouldn't worry about the breed unless you want a registered calf. I bet he has a low birth-wieght bull in the tank already.

Nate
Ex-dairy worker

Nathan (SD) · Sep 27, 2012

Use what he has. He breeds heifers too. He will have something that will work. If you turn it into a weeks long genetics expo, my guess is his enthusiasm to help will go away.

My dad used to breed for our 4-H neighbors till they started instructing him how to do something that they knew nothing about.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 27, 2012

I'll check on that. My wife mentioned it in passing to his wife (she does the AIing on their farm) and she said they had Holstein in the freezer now.

David G · Sep 27, 2012

Never thought of it this way, but they start in the freezer and end up there.

BCnT · Sep 27, 2012

black angus is a good first calf choice...low birth weight and easy calving.
i started using ba bulls on my limosin stock and stuck with them...calves always go to number 1 pen at auction barn...also have never had any birth problems with this breeding.

Hoofer B · Sep 27, 2012

use a calving ease bull. holstein will do.

Dachshund · Sep 27, 2012

Depends...
What are you planning for the calf? Angus cross (and Angus in particular) are barely fit to eat. If you are hoping for a heifer, then stick with a milk breed. I'd also stay away from Holstein - they make good milk cows, but not much cream - better beef than an Angus, though. If you hope to have a heifer, then stick with a Brown Swiss or Jersey. Holstein and their crosses will also consume a LOT of food. Your AI tech should be able to get whatever you want. Stick with what you have, even if it isn't registered.

LaVern Skarzenski · Sep 27, 2012

Please don't take this wrong, I guess I am a bit confused by this comment,. ..."What are you planning for the calf? Angus cross (and Angus in particular) are barely fit to eat".
Why do you say Angus are barely fit to eat. My own experience says just the opposite, We have found Angus to be excellent in the freezer, though they seem to be a bit more rambunctious in the pasture and barn than my preferred Herefords.
LaVern Skarzenski

David G · Sep 28, 2012

My dad did a Brown Swiss crossed with Angus for a first calf. It made a very nice little beef calf.

AIing Cattle

Anonymous-0

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randallinMo

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Nate V. IA

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Nathan (SD)

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Anonymous-0

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David G

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BCnT

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Hoofer B

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Dachshund

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LaVern Skarzenski

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