How to Breed Cows
Cows remain pregnant for about 9 months. Beef breeders prefer their cows to have calves in the spring and early summer. These calves can safely live in the pasture in mild weather. Dairy farmers must breed cows year-'round to maintain milk production. These calves are usually bottle fed and kept in calf hutches. You must either own one or more bulls or use an artificial-insemination program to breed cows.
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Things You'll Need
- Record books
- Sterile Semen Straws
- Syringe or Kazoo gun
- Forceps
- Straw cutter
- Paper towel
- Nitrogen tank
- PG600 Cysterelin Bovalene Estrumate
- OvSynch
Instructions
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Turn out your bull with your cows about 9 months before you want them to calve. If you want your cows to begin calving in April, you would turn out your bull with them in July. Remember that your bull cannot service all of your cows in one day, nor will all of your cows be ready to receive him on the same day.
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Feed your bull extra food and vitamins when he is breeding the cowherd, or he may lose a lot of weight. Feed your cows extra food, including a vitamin supplement when they are pregnant and nursing their calves. It is also important for cows to be on a good nutrition program if you intend to use artificial insemination.
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If you choose to use artificial insemination instead of a bull, inject your cow with PG600 Cysterelin Bovalene Estrumate, followed by OvSynch to force ovulation. You must watch your cows carefully each day to determine when you should artificially inseminate if you do not inject the hormones listed. Sexually mature cows normally come into heat about every 18 to 24 days when they are not pregnant. If a cow stands while another cow tries to mount, that is a sign that you can artificially inseminate the cow.
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When you are ready to breed your cow by artificial insemination, shake the semen straw to remove any nitrogen, then quickly plunge it into a hot water bath for 40 to 45 seconds
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Cut about 1/2 inch from the end of the semen straw and place it in the syringe. Wrap with a dry paper towel.
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Thoroughly clean the vulva prior to inserting the syringe.
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Insert the loaded syringe at a 30-degree angle, avoiding the urethral opening, and pass the end through the cervix. Confirm the position of the tip using your index finger and slowly deposit half the semen. Reposition the syringe and then deposit the other half of the semen. Slowly remove the syringe.
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Tips & Warnings
Healthly cows and good daily nutrition are important to a breeding program.
Bulls can become very mean and dangerous in just a few years.
Resources
- Photo Credit Julia Fuller
Comments
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thank you for this information.
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painthorse42
Oct 02, 2008
As an animal lover I thought this was a great Article! 5* -
painthorse42
Oct 02, 2008
As an animal lover I thought this was a great Article! 5*
