Maximizing on Your Investment in GenChoiceTM
By Ross Leix
Training Programs Manager, CRI
Many dairies are beginning to experience the advantages of sexed semen. Whether using sexed semen to expand their herd from within, create a market for heifers or expand the influence of their best heifers and young cows more quickly, producers are realizing the benefits and taking action. Today's dairies having the most success with GenChoice are those that pay extra attention to all the little details.
Sexed semen goes through a strenuous production process. The process of sorting the male and female sperm results in semen that is less fertile than conventional semen. However, it also gives provides a 90 percent chance of producing a heifer calf. It is the 90 percent chance of producing a heifer calf that makes GenChoice so valuable.
For best results, it is important to utilize GenChoice on the most fertile animals, such as virgin heifers in standing heat. Using GenChoice on this type of animal will ensure the most return on your investment.
There are also a few other steps you can take to maximize on your investment in GenChoice. Before starting to use GenChoice, take time to monitor the status of your current reproductive program. Do you feel you are achieving average to above average conception results? If not, sexed semen is not the product you will want to use to put your reproductive program back on track. Take time to analyze your current program and to identify changes that can help increase overall conception rates.
If your current conception rates are good and you are ready to start using GenChoice, there are a few details to pay special attention to. The first is to spend more time heat detecting. Remember, the best GenChoice results come from young, healthy animals bred after being observed in standing heat. Improving your heat detection is a great way to make sure you are getting the largest return on your investment when using GenChoice. Let's look at a few ways to help make sure your heat detection is accurate.
Know the signs of heat!
Most cows and heifers show behavioral changes beginning in the early stages of estrus and continuing throughout the entire period of heat. The primary sign of heat is when the animal stands and allows herself to be mounted by herdmates. However, there are many other indicators, called secondary signs of heat, which may help identify animals that should be observed closely. Some secondary signs of heat include: riding other cows, bellowing or bawling, displaying signs of nervousness, sniffing the vulva or urine of other animals, having a pink and swollen vulva with a clear mucous discharge, having a rough tailhead, chin rubbing, or they seem to be searching for something.
Take time to accurately detect heat and only detect heat!
The majority of mounts last six to eight seconds. This makes it difficult for casual observers, or observers doing other chores such as feeding, scraping alleys and moving cows, to observe all mounts. Also, these casual observers are often not in a location to correctly identify the cow in heat. Misidentifying the cow in heat is just as bad as not seeing the heat in the first place.
The individuals who are in charge of heat detection need to make the task their only priority when it comes time for heat detection. They should position themselves in "hot spots" in the pen. Hot spots are places where there is good footing so animals will gather to show mounting activity. The observer should be positioned in a place where the animal's eartag or identification marker is easy to read. Heat detection should occur two to three times per day for at least 20 minutes each time.
Heat detect at the right time!
Research indicates more than 70 percent of the mounting activity takes place between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Factors such as high temperature, humidity, wind and rain tend to inhibit the expression of heat during midday hours. The moral of the story is that out of the two to three times you heat detect each day, one should be in the late evening hours and one in the early morning hours. This will ensure heat detection is taking place at the times when cows are most likely to show signs of heat.
While nothing replaces actually seeing and identifying the cow in heat there are a number of different heat detection aids that help with identifying heats. Ask your Genex representative about the different heat detection aids and which one will work best for your situation.
Another easy way to ensure the best results when using GenChoice is to review your semen handling techniques. Sexed semen is fragile and requires extreme care when handling. Review the semen handling checklist included below to make sure you are doing everything you can to protect the straw and its contents.
A few other tips to improve your success with GenChoice include:
§ Keep the tank close to where you will be breeding to reduce time from the tank to the heifer.
§ Make sure you keep straws stored in the bottom goblet of the cane. This ensures the straws remain submerged in the liquid nitrogen at a constant temperature.
§ Keep accurate inventory records so semen can be pulled quickly from the proper canister.
§ Load insemination guns and work with the semen in a protective warm area to minimize cold shock and sun exposure.
§ Remember to periodically check that the thermometer in your water bath is correct.
Heat detection and semen handling are a couple simple areas you can improve on in order to increase your conception rates with sexed and conventional semen. Take time to review your technique to make certain you are maximizing on your investment in GenChoice.
