Heat check help

[GLZ]

So I have a first calf cow that threw me a beautiful little heifer calf back in mid February.

Back on the evening of April 21, I watched her standing locked up as a bred cow was mounting her.  I woke up early the next morning and bred her (4/22)  I will admit I used a straw that I am not sure is any good any more.  My thought process is that I am not really excited for January calves, so I will get rid of this semen.  If she sticks fantastic, if not I got rid of a straw and I don't have to worry about a January calf.  (which I am not real set up for)  I was pretty happy how the breeding went that morning, and thought there was a good chance she would stick.

Flash forward to this evening.  May 1.  She is standing again.  Multiple cows riding her, and she is locked up big time. 

So what am I looking at here?  I am certain she was standing on the 21st, and 10 days later I am again certain she is standing.  I plan to catch her in the morning and breed her, however any thoughts on the short cycle?  Is this pretty common?  Am I not thinking of something i should know.  Is it just a simple short cycle?  Any info anyone can provide me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[farmboy]

i believe i've read a cowboy post about 21 days is simply an average and every cow is different, i'd say breed her again.

 

[cowman 52]

  Might have been a false heat,  Might have been a good heat.  Breed her & watch,  if in heat again in less than 21 days may have an ovary  that is cystic,  2  cc ova cyst or cysterllin and wait for nature to take it's course,  should see a good heat in 10 days give or take,  breed then & be all will work out

 

[GLZ]

Found some good stuff here on it.

http://www.ext.vt.edu/news/periodicals/livestock/aps-03_12/aps-278.html

 

[DTW]

Over the years i have found that cows will cycle the first time after calving then 7 to 10 days cycle again.  That second heat is a very fertile heat if you get them bred at the right time.
I had one last year cycle at 35 days after calving then 10 days later and i bred her on the second heat and she had a monoply bull calf and i moved her up 45 days in calving interval.  This year i had two cows cycle at 35 days and then 7 to 10 days later but i didnt bred them either because i dont like january calves either.
Not all cows do this but some do and was told years ago that the cycle at 7 to 10 days after the first one is a good heat to breed on.
I am sure cowboy would have some insight on this topic as well.

 

[Cowboy]

I knew some body was talking about me tonight, I could feel it I guess.

This is a VERY common phenom -- for those of us (and YOU meaning every one) that watch the cows like hawks to a rabbit -- we see this all the time.

First of all, that very FIRST heat -- no matter how long from calving will be a starter heat if you will. Once the cow cycles that first time, she will almost invariably cycle again in about 10 days -- WHY???

Here's the answer -- and I will use layman terms here. Each ovary is a seperate entity -- especially while she is pregnant. Once she calves, those ovaries start to try and go back to repro mode. One will cycle first, then the other. Thus the 10 day heats we all see some times. VERY observant on your cow I might add.

Those late term pregnant cows are great heat checkers due to the increase in Estrogen, be carefull however letting them ride like this very much -- you can and will at itmes tear off a cotiledon and she will calve very early -- had it happen several times over the years, so now I never let them ride, especially if I have an open cow saved back and is running with the breds.

The HEAT cow -- her SECOND heat will now be the primary fertile heat -- as the resulting hormone surge has erased your first effort almost without fail. If you must, breed her tomorrow morning and look for a calf in 9 months.

Most of these cows will cycle at say 30 days or so, but then you'll see them in heat again at 40 something. Do the Math on this and forcast it out. Early 30's, Early 40's, Mid 60's, and again MId 80's days from calving. Lesson to be learned -- if you breed at the heat on the 80's day cycle, she will calve back almost to the day every year. Actually 86 days is almost exactly a years calving interval, depending on bulls used.

This was most likely her first and second heat -- although she has had time for it to be her third.

Hope that answers any questions or concerns -- NOTHING wrong with your cow.

Amazing how DTW was thinking the same as me!! hehehe -- she will cycle again in 21 days if open -- doubt if you will need to worry about problems or using any other drugs unless she cycles every few days from now on.

Good luck --- Terry

 

[shortdawg]

Great info ! I've seen this happen - just didn't know exactly why.

 

[oakbar]

We've usually put CIDRs in between 35 and 40 days after calving if we're trying to move a cow up a little.  Does this seem like the right time or should we adjust it one way or the other?  Overall, it seems to work pretty good but maybe we could do better!!  Thanks for your help, everyone!