Ms Fermoy and her red genes

[Donlin Dexters]

Hi Genebo. this one is for you.

I read elsewhere from you
" My best hope is for a bull calf out of Eve or Dara or Triu that inherits the red. Without a bull, this project to reproduce Ms. Fermoy's red will fail."



I have a suggestion, a recommendation if you like. It has worked for us on many occasions so we tried it with the favourite daughter of our ‘template’ mum who has only ever produced heifers with various sires, and whose daughters had only had heifers also to various sires.
We had little Bailey arrive and one would have thought we won the lotto from our reactions of feeling those dangly bits.................


Watch closely Eve, Dara and Triu for their heat cycles to begin without letting Brenn too close but close enough to make and keep him eager.

Then at the very moment you see Brenn’s interest start to wane ( or you know the general length of the girls standing cycle) allow him access and leave him with her (which hopefully once the joining is complete, he will only want to guard/protect and not to re join).

Its based on the principle of timing and the knowledge of sperm behaviour.

Timing is when the egg is mature and ready for fertilisation (this is different to when the egg is released).
Ys live in the fast lane while Xs live in the slow lane.

The hope is the egg has been released and is in the process of maturing, getting ready for fertilisation when the majority of Ys arrive at their destination. Allowing the sperm to arrive before the egg is ready increases the number of Xs in the vicinity as the Ys die off.


It worth a try and I would probably try all three girls to increase the chance of a bullcalf (three would be great) and one that carrys the E+.

What have you got to lose? Another heifer?

[genebo]

I like your suggestion. It's one I was vaguely aware of, having heard others talk about using timing to control the sex of the calf.

This is one I can do. I have a small pen that I can put the females in on their approaching heat cycles. I call it the "penalty box". It's where I kept Ms. Fermoy when we were preparing her for flushing.

You have probably put your finger on why I've had so many females. Brenn is super eager. He can be seen courting the girls well before they show any signs of being in heat. Whenever I had a cow in the penalty box, he was as attentive as ever, pacing the fence line day and night. He'll let me know just when her cycle is, and as soon as his interest starts to subside, I'll turn her out with him. It just might work!

Fingers crossed.

[Donlin Dexters]

Please let us know how you go and what the resulting offspring are.

My fingers are crossed for three bullcalves who all carry E+ so you are able to choose the most desirable sire - which I assume will go straight back to the mother and other two girls (half-sisters?)
I know we would - especially with Ms Fermoy being so close in the pedigrees

[genebo]

Yes, that is exactly what we plan to do, given a bull calf that inherits the red.

[Donlin Dexters]

So when will the joinings happen?