To breed a cow without the actual bull you need frozen semen. Well of course you do!!
This gadget. The semen is in a small straw that fits into the end of this, once it gets through the cervix the semen is gently released into the uterus.
And to get that far you will need one of these. A sleeve that goes right up to your shoulder.
Then a good whiff of this before you start because this is a smelly business especially if you have a gassy cow.
Many people learn the procedure of Artificial Insemination but I am lucky to have the Lady Vet who is kind enough to come out and do the breeding once a year. So, Daisy has been bred, and we now have to wait 30 days to see if it took. I really, really hope so, I told her to go into the next room and lie down with her legs in the air. She huffed.
But Queenie. Our sweet little Queenie was not having any of it. Her cervix would not relax at all. So we will try again in 21 days. You really do not want the details. No-one wants to hear a cow talk about her insides. She was in heat though, which means she is fertile so there is no reason why it will not work next time. Fingers crossed. The Lady Vet said this has only ever happened to her once before in her career. That she could not breed a cow.
But Queenie says she thinks Grue Grit is a pompous ass anyway.
That’s ok. We can try again. I need Daisy to calve in early spring but Queenie can be a little later, I don’t have to milk HER through the winter if the dates get too late!
The Lady Vet has given the OK for Daisy to go down to once a day milking tomorrow and then a week after that we will dry her up. Because of her history of mastitis we will dry the udder using injections into the udder. They go up through the teat and this is one procedure Delicate Daisy does not even flinch for. Which is lucky as I am right underneath her when I do it. So I am fairly confident. If we dry her up well there is every chance that when she freshens again with a new calf, her udder will reset itself and be back to normal. And I will know so much more next time. Things will run more smoothly I am sure.
Good morning.
We have the promise of sun today. The birds are loud outside so I think they know it too. Maybe today I can get into the bee hives. Also the floor men are coming this morning, they will put the floor down in the Coupe and it will be done by Wednesday. Then it will really start to look like a Tiny House.
Have a lovely day.
your friend, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
52 responses to “What you need to breed a cow without a bull”
Fascinating stuff, C! Odd about Queenie, though…Hope it works next time!
Have a wonderful sunny day – we have rain, so we’re going to the store today. After we put on our Wellies and do some puddle-stomping, that is!
We all learn so much here.
well, that is not very romantic is it! poor queenie…i don’t blame her a bit! i hope you get some good weather. still dry here.
Good morning Celi ;well aint that some information that can be useful like you but a bit closer i have a neighbor that are vets one is retired and will help if asked but i try not to. thanks Celi great info have a blessed day mike
Maybe Queenie had imagined a more romantic interlude with Tue Grit in person, silly girl 🙂 Do you just keep True Grits’ specimen frozen till next time, or does Queenie get to choose a different Bull?
Hoping Daisy takes this time. Laura
I am clueless about cow breeding…now I know the rest of the story! 🙂 Thanks for enlightening me and leaving out the really explicit parts. 🙂
Done a lot of this myself when we were on the farm… not the cleanest of jobs, and my cows tended to sh..t all over me everytime we did this procedure… great fun though… not so the having to assist with the birth, that I left to my wife who was damn good at it when we had a breached birth…
Well I am sure you are glad at least one of your girls was cooperative.I am sure Queenie was looking for someone higher up the royal chain, being a ‘Queen’ and all. Maybe you should tell her ‘True Grit’ is at least an Earl!! Royalty can be so fussy who they breed with LOL
Going to pick and freeze some of my Broccoli today, very grey and overcast with more rain threatening. On the bright side, tomorrow and rest of week looking good and less humid (thank goodness – my hair is like an affro!!)
Jessie would never take with ai, give her a bull and caught on the first try, she was our family milk cow when I was a kid..
this will be the next stage with Queenie too, but finding a friendly hereford bull owner who will let my little organic beef cow run with his bull will be the trouble.
That’s a really cool cow on the Seme Inventory Record!! Too cool for school 😉
Queenie’s turned-back ear looks like the cow equivalent to a raised eyebrow!
Christine
What an exciting life you lead!
Daisy is lucky to have a lady vet with a small arm. Maybe Queenie saw the process and said “Oh heck no! Not this girl.”
Daisy had done it before. Perhaps you need to have a little chat with Queenie about the birds and the bees,or maybe she needed a little cuddle first! Good luck next time.
It is gorgeous here – I just wish someone would come and see the house and fall in love with it while the garden is looking so good and the sun is shining.
Have a great day,
love, ViV
Good luck Daisy. Try a pillow under your bum, and have a nap resting on your side. It didn’t work for me but maybe it will work for you! 😀