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Beginners version of AI'ing

H

Hollowroad Whitetails

Joined May 2010
375 Posts | 0+
Hazleton, PA
Hi guys:



I wanted some beginners information on setting up an AI program. I think this will be a good way to diversify my herd. Can you please explain to me the process of AI'ing from start to finish, including the equipment I will need. Also, I am in PA and would like any info on any reputable vets who come to my area to perform these services.



Thanks,

Daniel
 
Start by placing a CIDR in the vagina of the doe. This is a progesterone implanted device to stop the animal from coming into heat and ovulating. This stays in the doe for twelve to fourteen days. You can do this in a drop chute or by sedation. The less you have to sedate a deer the better. I would assume you would set up your AI for early November in your area. Whatever is the natural whitetail breeding time in your area is best for your does and will cause better rate of conception in your does.



At twelve to fourteen days remove the CIDR. At this time give 200 IU PMSG (Folligon) this is a hormone which will cause eggs and heat of the doe.

56 to 62 hours later you would inseminate the doe. I personally sedate the does for the AI process.



If you would like to talk about this my number is 406-467-2910 AI of deer is very easy in my opinion.

Jack Schubarth [email protected]
 
Jack has it right - we do all of that in the chute - no darting. So if you set up your system you will save a lot of darting. If your deer are run through the system periodically for TB testing, sorting etc. they get accustomed to it and it is low stress and fast. If you have a vet there for anything you want to minimize the time to keep the cost down. All I can say is it works well for us.
 
Daniel, If you want to talk more or need further explanation feel free to call 660-646-9099 my mobile . Will be glad to help with how we doit. Jack's pretty well covered it! But it can seem alittle overwhelming but as stated above it is a pretty simple process that is a good tool for your farm to use wether A/I or live cover. we use it both ways and do our live covers and A/I same day. Has worked very well for us! GOOD LUCK
 
I dart all mine all three times. I feel this puts less stress on them.First time is to put my cidr in second time is 2 weeks later to take cidr out and give shot of pmsg. The third time is 56-62 hours later to put semen in.

Dr Mike Briggins comes to pa every year so does Earl Souva from great lakes. After watching it be done you will see it is not hard to do yourself. You can by your own kit to do it yourself for around 150 dollars. I had Mike Briggens do 8 and i did 4 myself last year. I have at least 3 out of the 4 that took on the ones i did myself. I would recomend you watch a vet do it before you try it yourself though. I figured you have to do the first two steps yourself anyway why not do the third step and stick the semen in yourself to.
 
My in-laws run a dairy farm and they AI every one of their cows on their own. Is it much different to do a deer than a cow. I know the size diffenence but i mean the procedure and concepts. I was thinking about asking if I could AI some of the cows for practice, think this would help?
 
Not really Jared because you use your hand in the rectum of the cow to feel the cervix and thread it with your other hand.



You would do better with a goat course or deer training course. Everything is done in the deer through the vagina with the proper equipment.
 
Yes, either go to a class or simply have an experienced person like Dr. Bringans - who does ours - or Earl Souva - who does our semen collection come and do it. If you are investing money in straws of semen you don't want to waste it - it is well worth it to have them come. Even after all the years we've been doing AI, probably over 10, we still have Dr. Bringans come and do it. If we get even one more doe to take it has paid for itself.



When we run deer through the chute doing AI we figure about 3 minutes per deer. It is even less when we put in or pull cidrs. We feel it is the lowest stress possible and have consistently had around 80% on our conception rates. We usually do about 100 does each fall so this is a good representation.



We used sexed semen for the first time this year are waiting to see how that took since it is packed at a lower concentration.
 
I really want to also stress that the use of a good facility will pay for itself in a short time. I feel it is a must.



We average just under one minute per doe when we place the CIDR. On CIDR removal and shot we do average just a little over one minute. We did twenty eight Doe's in thirty minutes last year in one group and 25 does in thirty minutes in the other group we did. You can do all the AI with the use of a dart gun but the cost and sedation stress is not worth it if the animals can be sent through the chute system in such a short time.



Build a good handling facility for your animals and keep them familiars with the system and they will respond in a positive way.
 
Once they are in the chute thats how long it takes but how long does it take to get them in the chute system. I have been to a lot of farms and there is a lot of stress chaseing deer down the run ways and getting them into the chutes. When you dart them they don't seem to get stressed at all they go to sleep and you do your thing reverse and they don't know what happened.

If you are doing alot of deer i agree a chute is alot better but if you are only doing a few deer 10 or less i don't think it is necessary to have a chute.

Jared a cow is little different if you would like you can come watch us this fall we will be doing all of are own and helping with a few other farms as well an could always use an extra hand.
 
Two weeks before I have to run my does through the handling facility I feed and water them in the holding pen. I just put them in the pen next to the holding pen and keep the gate open. They get so used to going and out and you can catch them easy with no stress at all. Last fall it took me about 2 minutes to "catch" all my does.
 
Jack,I have to agree a handiling facility is in my opion the best money I have ever spent! getting your deer acustomed to it and regular use makes it a breeze! To eliminate that alley way problem is simple.........We put up a cannonball trak and a pusher gate to walk behind and we have had zero problems! Virgil the darting is just to stressfull on ME!
 
Myself i think darting is the funnest part kinda like going huntin. I'm usaully good up to 50 yards and it only takes about 15 min to dart 10 deer. However i agree in the long run a handling facility would be cheaper but if you are just starting out its not necessary.As far as the ai part its not rocket science it is very very simple and just about any one with common sense could do it them selves. Might be a little nerve racking the first time but after that its a breeze. I would recommend watching someone who knows what they are doing and ask questions then do it yourself. This way you can go by your own schedule and don't have to wait around for someone else.
 
Virgil I did darting for twenty years plus and know how you feel. It is like hunting and I only lost a few from problems caused from darting. You will loose a few using the handling facility also so losses are about equal.



I built my handling facility a few years back and just love it. Fact is I don't know how I did without one. All my pens enter into the alley way. I have gates with shade cloth at each pen. I have 255 acres fenced for the deer and elk. I let the deer get very accustom to the alley by letting a pen open so that the deer can enter into the alley way, feed and return to the pen for safety. This teaches the deer to leave as they know where the gate is. They also feel very comfortable going up and down the alley way which makes it very easy to herd them into the handling facility.



There is no hard and fast way rule to handle deer, it really is what works for you.
 
I think everyone makes some great points here and I don't think anyone is right or wrong......the bottom line is what ever you feel most comfortable with is what you should do.......personally I don't care how many times you run a deer through the chute ....they may get used to it but their still stressed....it is what it is........also getting chased then hit with a dart they will be stressed.......it is what it is........also if you don't think the doe that are being live bred and being chased around the pen by the buck don't have any stress your kidding yourself it is what it is........i know on numerous occasions sitting in a tree archery hunting when i watched a doe being chased by a buck and her tongue hanging out and i can tell you she definitly looked stressed to me............i guess my point is........there is no stress free way of getting your girls bred....it is what it is.........Stick with what works best for you and what your most comfortable with!! Ok I may have gone a little over board with the is what it is saying but hey.....i was trying to make a point!!....LOL!!
 

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