Sugar Rush Calves yet?

Help Support Steer Planet:

Carlson Cattle

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 27, 2012
Messages
889
I tried 3 diffrent times to put sugar rush semen in and never got anything to stick either
 

Limiman12

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 8, 2012
Messages
469
Location
SW. Iowa
I wonder if so e times people are quick to jump on bulls semen quality if their first few attempts don't stick.....  My semen tank got a little low two years ago.    The next spring Was 0-4 with straws that were left in it....  Wrote that semen off, but before throwing it out, had the vet check a straw, he said it was fine.  Went four for five the next year with the straws I about threw out. 


It would be hard for me to believe a owner/collector/distributer would let bad semen out the door if at all possible.......  Reputations are too valuable to destroy for a short term gain.
 

Carlson Cattle

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 27, 2012
Messages
889
Limiman12 said:
I wonder if so e times people are quick to jump on bulls semen quality if their first few attempts don't stick.....  My semen tank got a little low two years ago.    The next spring Was 0-4 with straws that were left in it....  Wrote that semen off, but before throwing it out, had the vet check a straw, he said it was fine.  Went four for five the next year with the straws I about threw out. 


It would be hard for me to believe a owner/collector/distributer would let bad semen out the door if at all possible.......  Reputations are too valuable to destroy for a short term gain.

what do you mean you wrote it off? Can you take it off on you taxes?
 

ejoe326

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 2, 2012
Messages
193
Limiman you are applying honest, rational thinking to a business that is not always that.

In 30 years had a fair share of poor quality overextended semen.  I've had a couple good distributors pull back what I've bought when they've tested it themselves.  I think the synch programs help the poor quality out quite a bit. 

Unless it is the really expensive stuff we will always thaw a straw ourselves and put it under the microscope to see what's happening.

It is interesting to see the differences between bulls.

 

Gargan

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 24, 2011
Messages
3,067
Location
West Virginia
ejoe326 said:
Limiman you are applying honest, rational thinking to a business that is not always that.

In 30 years had a fair share of poor quality overextended semen.  I've had a couple good distributors pull back what I've bought when they've tested it themselves.  I think the synch programs help the poor quality out quite a bit. 

Unless it is the really expensive stuff we will always thaw a straw ourselves and put it under the microscope to see what's happening.

It is interesting to see the differences between bulls.
What power microscope do you use?  I need to buy one!
 

ejoe326

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 2, 2012
Messages
193
I don't know the name of it.  It is really old and was one from the vet.

I know it isn't fancy at all.  Just plug it in and turn to the right magnification. 
 

hntwhitetail

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 11, 2010
Messages
1,454
ejoe326 said:
I don't know the name of it.  It is really old and was one from the vet.

I know it isn't fancy at all.  Just plug it in and turn to the right magnification.

Are you using a 400x??
 

ejoe326

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 2, 2012
Messages
193
I thought it was only a 100x but I will have to dig it out.  If I remember right you can buy a brand new one for less than 350.00.

I don't know much about them but know I wouldn't want to breed without one. 


 

Limiman12

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 8, 2012
Messages
469
Location
SW. Iowa
Doesn't have to be a very high tech microscope....  Lower power to look at motility, the stain it with some iodine (will kill sperm) to look at morphology.

Ajoe, not saying it never gets cut, but what happens to sales when word gets out a bulls semen isn't high quality?  The big difference with clones is semen quality when compared to the original, and marketing.  But scientifically semen quality of old DNA is lower.  I can not imagine risking word getting out of bad semen to make a few extra short term bucks and risk long term reputation of the bull and my program.  But I may have a straighter moral compass then some. ;-)

Carlson cattle.....  You can write off the cost of semen on taxes as an expense.    But in this context, "write it off" is commonly used term implying something is no good and not worth using or trusting or hoping for.  " Giving up on it " would be a synonym...... ::)
 

hntwhitetail

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 11, 2010
Messages
1,454
I was just wondering if anyone had calves yet.  I liked the looks of the bull and was planning on using a few straws this spring.

I purchased a tank w/ a bunch of different semen from a sale a couple of weeks ago, just wanted to test a couple of straws before I start putting them in the cows this spring, so let me know what power microscope I need to take a look.  Thanks
 

Limiman12

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 8, 2012
Messages
469
Location
SW. Iowa
Most microscopes with a high power and low power will work....


Don't really have to waste a straw to test either.....  Put a drop on the slide check it, takes just a few seconds, and then use the straw if it looks good.    I would ask your vet to look at the slides when he checks your bulls this spring so you know what you are looking at
 

hntwhitetail

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 11, 2010
Messages
1,454
Limiman12 said:
Most microscopes with a high power and low power will work....


Don't really have to waste a straw to test either.....  Put a drop on the slide check it, takes just a few seconds, and then use the straw if it looks good.    I would ask your vet to look at the slides when he checks your bulls this spring so you know what you are looking at

Thanks for the tip.
 
Top