Comments for The Dual Purpose Dispatch http://silvermapledexters.com/DPDispatch Mon, 19 Apr 2010 02:21:17 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Comment on Replacement Heifers—Getting them off to a Good Start by Mike Snook http://silvermapledexters.com/DPDispatch/?p=47&cpage=1#comment-7 Mike Snook Mon, 19 Apr 2010 02:21:17 +0000 http://silvermapledexters.com/DPDispatch/?p=47#comment-7 Happy to report that I was wrong...that dun heifer just gave birth to a nice dun heifer. I thought she had lost a calf in Dec...but I was wrong! This is 2010's first calf...expecting 2 more for this year in the next few weeks! Fingers are crossed for heifers! Happy to report that I was wrong…that dun heifer just gave birth to a nice dun heifer. I thought she had lost a calf in Dec…but I was wrong! This is 2010′s first calf…expecting 2 more for this year in the next few weeks! Fingers are crossed for heifers!

]]> Comment on Replacement Heifers—Getting them off to a Good Start by JMC http://silvermapledexters.com/DPDispatch/?p=47&cpage=1#comment-6 JMC Sun, 17 Jan 2010 02:48:09 +0000 http://silvermapledexters.com/DPDispatch/?p=47#comment-6 Hello Mike, As you know neither Melinda nor I are veterinaries, but we can tell you the steps we might go through for that situation. Interested in how the determination that she was in calf previously. First thing we would do, particularly if she lost a calf, would be to recheck our vaccinations for the animal. A couple links on health & vaccination programs for herd, http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/courses-jmgay/FDIUcowcalfHH.htm http://gpvec.unl.edu/griffin/HerdHealthTotalOutline-DG.doc As the one document indicates, there is no one plan fits all for vaccination programs and each breeder should develop their own in consultation with their vet. Along with the vaccination history, would consider recent nutritional history, what's her condition like? Is he too fat or too thin? Either could be preventing pregnancy. Has she had access to mineral? Does she display any possible nutritional/mineral deficiencies? Are there particular trace mineral deficiencies in your area that could be the problem? Has she had an injury? Second, if the vaccination history for the heifer suggested that everything was in order, nutrition is not suspect and body condition score is in the 5 to 7 range, we would probably have the veterinary do a check on her for any physiological problems preventing pregnancy, i.e, cysts, scar tissue... Finally, if the veterinary says she should breed it's decision time. If she had had been in with a bull for that length of time - that we knew was covering other cows, I think this heifer would go for beef. Our decision would be based on this line of thinking: Is this heifer, that appears to be a shy breeder at best, so outstanding in her own phenotype and from so outstanding of dam and sire that further time on her is warranted? If we answered yes without hesitation and could somehow see using a shy breeder in our breeding program - then we might give her a little more time - but how many heifers are that outstanding! Breed close and cull hard. Check out the vaccinations and nutrition first, then vet. check... Hello Mike,
As you know neither Melinda nor I are veterinaries, but we can tell you the steps we might go through for that situation. Interested in how the determination that she was in calf previously.

First thing we would do, particularly if she lost a calf, would be to recheck our vaccinations for the animal. A couple links on health & vaccination programs for herd, http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/courses-jmgay/FDIUcowcalfHH.htm http://gpvec.unl.edu/griffin/HerdHealthTotalOutline-DG.doc
As the one document indicates, there is no one plan fits all for vaccination programs and each breeder should develop their own in consultation with their vet.

Along with the vaccination history, would consider recent nutritional history, what’s her condition like? Is he too fat or too thin? Either could be preventing pregnancy. Has she had access to mineral? Does she display any possible nutritional/mineral deficiencies? Are there particular trace mineral deficiencies in your area that could be the problem?

Has she had an injury?

Second, if the vaccination history for the heifer suggested that everything was in order, nutrition is not suspect and body condition score is in the 5 to 7 range, we would probably have the veterinary do a check on her for any physiological problems preventing pregnancy, i.e, cysts, scar tissue…

Finally, if the veterinary says she should breed it’s decision time. If she had had been in with a bull for that length of time – that we knew was covering other cows, I think this heifer would go for beef.

Our decision would be based on this line of thinking: Is this heifer, that appears to be a shy breeder at best, so outstanding in her own phenotype and from so outstanding of dam and sire that further time on her is warranted? If we answered yes without hesitation and could somehow see using a shy breeder in our breeding program – then we might give her a little more time – but how many heifers are that outstanding! Breed close and cull hard.

Check out the vaccinations and nutrition first, then vet. check…

]]> Comment on Replacement Heifers—Getting them off to a Good Start by msnook http://silvermapledexters.com/DPDispatch/?p=47&cpage=1#comment-5 msnook Sat, 16 Jan 2010 06:25:24 +0000 http://silvermapledexters.com/DPDispatch/?p=47#comment-5 I want to run a scenerio past you. I have a real nice, well mannered dun heifer that has never calved for us yet. She is about 3 years old and seems very healthy. In with the bull and other cows full time. She appears to have been pregnant 1x for sure, but never carried anything full term and delivered. We have never seen any signs of miscarriage or anything. She has never been tested and I am losing patience. She is long legged and bred to long legged bull. How much time should I give her to earn her keep? I like her "look" but can't wait for ever. I want to run a scenerio past you. I have a real nice, well mannered dun heifer that has never calved for us yet. She is about 3 years old and seems very healthy. In with the bull and other cows full time. She appears to have been pregnant 1x for sure, but never carried anything full term and delivered. We have never seen any signs of miscarriage or anything. She has never been tested and I am losing patience. She is long legged and bred to long legged bull. How much time should I give her to earn her keep? I like her “look” but can’t wait for ever.

]]> Comment on Welcome to the Dual Purpose Dispatch by msnook http://silvermapledexters.com/DPDispatch/?p=1&cpage=1#comment-4 msnook Sat, 16 Jan 2010 06:15:39 +0000 http://silvermapledexters.com/DPDispatch//?p=1#comment-4 Great concept! I'm looking forward to learning more and hearing others thoughts and successes. Great concept! I’m looking forward to learning more and hearing others thoughts and successes.

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