Heifer problem

[orwell]

I am having a really hard time to get my heat wave heifer bred. I realize that a lot of people are having trouble with these heifers but I wanted to give it a try. She got a shot of (not sure on the spelling)Cystorelin and also a shot of (again not sure on spelling) estromate. We then put her out with the bull. She never got bred but we also wondered if this was because she just got back from the Royal and was stressted and in a new pasture so we needled her again and put her back out. She still never got bred. Is there anything that I am not doing or should be doing, or is it just a lost cause?

 

[CPL]

Why not just turn her out and let him get her on a natural heat? Also whats her condition. If she's too fat she'll have trouble breeding. Do you know that she's cycling?

 

[Jill]

Are you watching her to see if she is coming into heat?  Have to agree, if you are putting her with a bull I would just let her cycle naturally.

 

[LazyGLowlines]

Agree...if she's too fat she can have problems breeding, even if she's cycling.  Estromate should help them come into heat, though we've found it doesn't always work.  And the Cystorelin (sp?) is used once they've come in heat and helps prevent cysts.  I know we all want to get them bred as quickly as possible but sometimes we just need nature to take over. 

 

[Cowboy]

I also agree in the case of the natural heat and let the bull have his way.

Hormone shots are a great tool we all use, but they are absolutely worthless unless they are administered at the correct time, and also -- the correct drug for the job. Your hfr would have had to have been between day 6 and day 18 for your Estrumate to work, and if you gave Cystorelin at the same time, and she was ready to ovulate, she would not show heat and the Estrumate would have had no chance on workng with out a good mid-term CL.

Show hfrs as a group are tuff to get some times, and these particular genetics added to that will make it worse. Let nature take it's course here, you'll be much better off.

Good luck with her!

Terry

 

[Bulldaddy]

You didn't say how old your heifer was but maybe she just needs a little more time.  You may  want to have your vet check her tract to make sure it is normal.  Otherwise, I agree with the other posters: just let her come into heat natrually.  Those ex show heifers are often difficult to get breed since they are usually too fat.

 

[orwell]

She's a february of 08 so she is ready.

 

[CJC]

How long have you been trying too get her bred? At almost 2yrs old she should be getting ready to have a calf.

 

[Show Heifer]

Terminal genetics often have maternal problems. Your finding that out the hard way. And your right, many have had troubles getting certain bloodlines bred. They also have trouble with them claiming the calf, and milking well enough to raise a calf. Good Luck.

 

[Jill]

While we have had all of the rest of the problems with Heat Wave heifers, we have never had one that we had problems getting bred.  A Feb. 08 calf should be calving in the next month or two, if are having that many problems with her, I would say ship her.

 

[CAB]

  Orwell why fight it? You've been blessed with a Heat Wave heifer that won't put herself through calving. Just kidding!! Kind of. Did you raise her? Have you seen her cycle? If you didn't raise her and haven't seen her cycle, is she a freemartin heifer?  Good Luck, but count your lucky stars and cut your losses early. JMO.

 

[Bulldaddy]

Yes, I agree with Jill and Show Heifer:  ship her and cut your losses.  At almost 2 she should be ready to calf, not breed.  I would suggest palpating her before you do just in case she is bred.

 

[mooch]

Had a Heatwave hfr  a couple years ago that did  exactlly what yours is doing never did get her bred  and neither did the bull. After hearing what kind of cows they made, considered our selves fortunate.

 

[vcsf]

I think that some more information is needed here.  If I am reading your original post correctly it sounds as if you have needled the heifer twice since the Royal which was less than 6 weeks ago and you also talk about putting her in a pasture with a bull.  Were you supplementing her after you put her out as I assume the forage value was not that high and if she was previously being fed to show the drop in nutrition could definitely cause problems breeding.  Did you try to get her bred before this time if not I don't think you have given the heifer a fair chance yet.

 

[orwell]

We bought this calf for me to show during our show season this past summer. She was a little small and needed to be pushed so we could get her to look as good as possible. She was on a show feed and is now just getting silage(sp?). I think that we will be giving her some more time and go from there.