Select Sires

False Assumptions
Don’t Settle Cows

By Mel DeJarnette, reproductive specialist

Remember the last time an assumption got you in trouble? I wish I had a nickel for every time that I had heard (or said myself) the phrase, "I’m sorry, but I assumed that you". As a great theologian (my boss, Clif Marshall) once said, "To ass-u-me is to make a four-legged beast of burden out of you and me."

Are false assumptions affecting the fertility or efficiency of your A.I. breeding program? Let’s discuss a few key areas where false assumptions can lead to problems.

Heat Detection

Have your heat detection personnel been adequately trained in heat detection or are you assuming they were, because of their prior work experience or because they simply said they were?
Do they understand the difference between a standing mount and other secondary signs of estrus, and how these signs relate to timing of ovulation and proper insemination timing?
Are a high percentage of animals assumed to be in estrus because of activated heat-detection aids?
Do you have regularly scheduled heat-detection periods with designated employee responsibility?

I have seen this one cause problems time and time again. Often I have visited farms and asked about heat detection programs and have heard this reply, "We don’t have a regularly scheduled period; everyone just kind of watches all the time."

I’m sure such a program would work fairly well if this, in fact, is what actually happens. However, more often than not, each employee tends to assume the other employees are heat detecting, and, in the end, more assuming is done than heat detection.

Semen Handling

Have you checked your thermometer lately or are you assuming its calibration is correct?
Do you provide adequate thermal and hygienic protection while thawing straws and loading the guns, or do you assume that minor deviations and shortcuts in the process won’t cause any problems?

A.I. Techniques

Is semen being deposited directly into the uterine body or are you assuming that it’s "close enough"?
Are repeat-service animals really in heat, or are many pregnant animals being reinseminated and aborting due to false assumptions regarding heat detection?

Tank Management
Do you regular monitor nitrogen use by your semen tank or do you assume that because it’s a fairly new model, nothing will go wrong?

Nutrition
Do you regularly use forage analysis to promote accurate ration balancing or do you assume that this year’s and last year’s crops are equal with respect to energy, protein and fiber content?

Herd Health
Have you recently evaluated or updated your vaccination program with your veterinarian or do you assume that your risk to certain diseases is minimal? In many cases saving only one calf or pregnancy could justify the cost of vaccination for the entire herd.

General
Never assume that because you have performed a certain practice, chore or procedure the same way for years that it is still the best or most efficient way. If you’re like most herd owners, you’ve seen quite a few changes in size and/or management practices during the last five to 10 years. Because of the new changes, old practices that made sense when adopted may not be applicable now.

These are but a few examples of where assumptions invariably lead to trouble. Are false assumptions causing problems in your herd? To maintain good reproductive performance in your herd:

Make a list of assumptions you have made regarding your breeding program.
Once a week investigate an assumption to make sure procedures and practices are being performed properly.
Get all employees involved, and seek outside advice and expertise as needed.
When the list is completed, make a new one or start over and check everything again.

It’s just such attention to detail that can make a big difference when it comes to the overall reproductive performance of your herd.

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