Double Date

Jan
19

Mobile vet Clara Mason was back at Sassafras Farm on Saturday (with her “weekend assistant” husband) to AI (artificially inseminate) Glory Bee and Dumplin. Here, she was preparing for the insemination at her truck before going to the barn. The semen arrives in a large container. Inside that container is the liquid nitrogen tank. And inside that is a package that contains the straws of frozen semen.
IMG_4132
I had three straws of black angus semen.
IMG_4134
The semen is loaded into a long narrow tube that is inserted into the cow’s cervix. Air is pumped in to push the semen out of the tube.

Of course, it’s a bit of a violation.
IMG_4138
But good mother-daughter bonding time!
IMG_1062
Glory Bee: “Close your eyes, baby. Just think of England.”
IMG_4143
I don’t think Dumplin understood.

The papa is a revist from Night Off, a black angus bull from somewhere, who comes to woo my cows in his liquid nitrogen coach. It was like a double date for Glory Bee and Dumplin. Except only one boyfriend and he didn’t even buy them dinner.

Glory Bee had a double dose–two straws–and one for Dumplin. Dumplin is no longer a virgin. The vet told me as she was breaking her hymen. Being Dumplin’s first experience, she was a bit disturbed. The vet asked for a bale of straw to put behind her to make sure she didn’t get a kicking.
IMG_4139
She suggested some modifications for the chute, which is my milking stall, that will help make it a safer situation for reproductive services, and I will be taking care of that as quickly as possible. I’ll either modify this one, or build a new one that is specifically for vet work. Other than her initial reaction for a few rough moments, she said Dumplin behaved very well for a first-timer! We were proud.
IMG_4140
Even though they were given the shot of lutalyse to throw them into heat at the same time, their bodies still react individually. I was trying most to time it to be perfect for Glory Bee, but the vet said by the feel of things once she got in there, it was absolutely perfect timing on Dumplin and we might have been slightly off on Glory Bee. We’ll see in three weeks. They’re synced on their heat cycles now, and I’ll be watching them for signs of heat, especially riding.

For those of you who don’t know, any cow (male or female) will ride a cow in heat. Sometimes they even ride each other to show dominance or are just messing around. ONLY a cow in heat will stand still when being ridden, though. So that’s how I tell who is bred–or not. Whoever is standing still for riding.

Fingers crossed that that’s…..NOBODY.





Comments

  1. Granma2girls says:

    This AI is definitely an education for me. I’ve never spent any time around farm animals. I had a LOL moment on your comment,”Close your eyes ,baby. Think of England”. Love your sense of humour!

  2. Joell says:

    OMG!
    This like one of those naughty pay for view movies.
    Quite an education, I hope after going through this that all goes well for the ladies.

  3. AnnieB says:

    Good luck, ladies!

  4. sesamekaren says:

    Blonde here…….can someone explain ” close your eyes…..think of England ” to me?

  5. sesamekaren says:

    Sorry….cant find your fortunately, unfortunately post I recently read……wanted to add a few………Unfortunately, the website for the mammy jane book is no longer available. ?…fortunately, I am hoping to borrow a copy from someone on your forum?…..Unfortunately, you were M.I.A a lot of 2014, and were missed by many……fortunately you are back in the saddle, posting away! YEEHAAAAWWWWWW!!!!!!!

  6. sesamekaren says:

    No longer need translation……..being a Brooklyn born babe…….couldn’t wait….looked it up………I get it….lol!!!! Hope to get to a retreat one day……need to get some picture books of barnyard animals….doubt I would know a duck from a goose or swan!!!!! Could probably recognize a pigeon……maybe!

  7. auntdiddly says:

    We raised Polled Shorthorn cattle for years and I highly recommend them. Easy keepers, rate of gain on the calves was awesome. And very pretty if I do say so my self. We switched after being a dairy farm for years, to raising beef. We had solid red calves that at auction, most people thought were Red Angus. Best wishes on healthy calves in the future.

Add Your Thoughts