AI? Check. Preg? Check.
By: Steve Suther
October 27, 2011
Hey fellow seekers,
Preg checking the artificially inseminated (AI-bred) heifers is always an exciting time, waiting to see how many can get the checkmark of “probably AI.” To most commercial producers, it’s not worth the time and labor, but I see the benefits of using a sequence of single, high-accuracy sires to build up herd genetics, aiming for more and more predictability.
There have been years when the AI probables were less than half, but this year could be the best yet. Too good to be true if we accept all “5.5,” “gotta be at least 5” and “gotta be 5” as safe in calf to Connection, this year’s feature. Palpation is not an exact science, but Dr. Bobby’s very experienced hand was making the calls. Those nuances of wording could be the fudge factor in bringing the AI-settled portion down from a possible 78% (94% overall bred), but it sure is nice to think about the potential.
Corn harvest was still going on near the R&R Corral Monday afternoon,but K-Stater Rory was available to move heifers into the circle,vet accomplice Leo ran the headgate and my father Ralph wrote down numbers. A forgotten opportunity and unrecorded detail this year was weight of the heifers, but cow-family records and weaning weights can help fill in that picture. All were in great body condition as they headed to winter range till January. February calving is always a worry but we’ll try to beat last winter’s decent showing.
As fall moves on, I’m already thinking about May and trying a new step in AI strategy: customized sire selection to better complete the genetic package in each commercial female. I plan to halt the “all in” approach for a while, instead sorting my herd into four or five groups based on data and choosing sires that fill specific needs of those groups. My version of “complementarity” is not officially sanctioned in mainstream beef science, where the word is solely used in connection with selection for crossbreeding and its famous free lunch. I’m talking about the dairy sense of corrective mating, and had to surf the Web all the way to Africa to find: “In most herds, complementary mating is practiced where the shortcomings of each cow. . . are matched with a bull that will improve and complement the daughter’s characteristics.” More about that idea after a few more frosts and going over EPDs before the fireplace.
Until next time… let’s aim for profit, target the brand and keep building tomorrow together.
–Steve
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