GNRH at Breeding?

[CMAHerefords]

what is everyones opinions on giving GNRH at the time you AI?

Does it help that much?

I figures each shot of GNRH is about $2 per shot so i was just wondering if it makes a big enough difference in conception to justify spending the extra money per cow. I was told by a breeder that it only helps increase conception like 5-8% so he didnt know if it would really be worth it except for on my harder breeding cows.
We like to give GNRH at the time of cidrs then pull them a week later with lut then breed when we see them standing.

Thanks.

 

[farmboy]

is $2 worth 5-8% better conception?
Whats a live calf worth these days?

Its easy math my friend  8)

 

[chambero]

I'll do the math for you - if you breed 100 cows you'll around an extra $250 in them for the GnRH.  That 250 buys you 5 more AI sired calves.  Whether they are any good or not they'll be around 60 lbs heavier at weaning due to age + the cows will be ready to breed back 30 days quicker.  In short - there isnt hardly anything you can do to improve conception that's not worth it

 

[firesweepranch]

We give it at the second AI (meaning she did not take the first AI so we are on round two). It helped last spring.... we were able to clean everyone up on the second AI except one heifer.

 

[rtmcc]

We use it on synch heats and natural alike.  I'm with Chambero on this one.  That one extra AI calf might be the one that you sell for $3500 instead of $1000 at the sale barn, plus the added weight on the older calves.  If your willing to spend $30 to $50 dollars on semen to breed a cow, an extra $2.00 for a better chance to make it work should be automatic.

Good luck with breeding season!

Ron
<cowboy>

 

[Mainevent]

What is GNRH?

 

[Miller Cattle Company 2M]

Gonadotropin releasing hormone...So you guys that give the extra shot, do you do it in part with a Timed AI or everytime?  Even when observing standing heats?

 

[firesweepranch]

Gonadotropin releasing hormone...So you guys that give the extra shot, do you do it in part with a Timed AI or everytime?  Even when observing standing heats?

We use only natural heats (unless we are setting up a group for embryos), and if a cow cycles back after a first AI attempt, we give Cystorelin when we AI the second time. That was recommended by  our ABS rep and vet, and we started it last spring and had great results. Some people use it on the first AI, but we just chose to wait and see. For us, one cycle will not make a huge difference since we are breeding for replacement animals and not market cattle.

 

[rtmcc]

We use it every time. Our cows get AI'd once and then they go to summer pasture with a clean up bull who usually gets pretty bored. We like to keep our calving window as tight as possible.

Ron