Q A&
Three breeders with more than 70 combined years of flushing cows have given tips from their experience on flushing. The common theme is that it takes a lot of luck and there is no set rule to success
How long have you been flushing? Andrew Dennison: About 20 years ago the first cow was flushed at Denmire.
Mick Gould: The first cow at Woodmarsh was flushed in 1981. Adam Watson: Flushing started at Derrydorragh more than 20 years ago, long before I was involved, when cows had to be taken to a flush centre and weren’t flushed on farm. The first ET calf born was in November 1990 and was actually from a bought in embryo.
when given the same FSH drugs. The breed may also have an impact on the success. It is well recognised by ET practitioners that Holsteins can yield less viable embryos compared to beef breeds. There are two different preparations of FSH available for superovulation (Pluset and Folltropin). Reponses to these can also vary, so it’s good to discuss with your ET practitioner prior to embarking on a programme as changing the FSH and/or dose can influence the outcome of the result, particularly when there is a history of a poor or over response on previous
superovulation attempts. Lastly, keeping the donor cow fit and well during the programme is obviously preferable. Lameness, mastitis or systemic illness (e.g. high fever) while on programme can have a severe adverse effect on results. A lot can be done to help improve and tweak results, but much of the success comes down to the cow as well as a bit of luck too. However, in the world of ET there are always exceptions to the rule, the thin lame cow that gives 15 grade one embryos or the cow that went down with mastitis after insemination and still gave seven grade one embryos.
Summary
• Avoid stress/ illness/management changes • Ultrasound examination before superovulation • Consistent diets for 5-6 weeks before flushing • Mineral supplementation • Energy supplementation (ketosis prevention) • Use long needles for hormone administration • Experienced inseminator • Consider semen “cocktail” • Have realistic expectations when using sexed semen for flushing
58 THE JOURNAL AUGUST 2015
How often do you flush? Andrew Dennison: We have no set pattern, when we feel there is an animal that we want to have a bigger influence in the herd we will flush her. Mick Gould: We flush regularly, although at the moment we aren’t flushing as much due to the down turn in the market. I aim to sell out of a flush to pay for it unless I am trying to develop a cow family. Adam Watson: We usually flush three or four times a year with multiple animals being flushed each time. Eggs from the flushes and ones purchased are implanted on average once a month.
What have been your best and worst results and is there anything you could put it down to? Andrew Dennison: The worst results are when there are no eggs and the expense of the flushing including drugs, time and semen. Our best result was 27 grade one embryos, however, the most rel- evant matter is how many live calves you get from a flush. Our flush- ing man takes credit for success and blames the bad results on our management! Mick Gould: For me the worst results are unfertilised eggs and sometimes cows just don’t respond. But unfertilised eggs are the most
frustrating. Pregnancies are the success and the embryo quality affects pregnancy rates, we average a minimum of 75% pregnancies, but you have to have faith in the ET technician. Our experienced ET technician treats every embryo as precious and only uses the best recipients. Adam Watson: Looking back it is easier to remember the bad flushes more vividly than the good ones, they usually hurt more. Unfortunately, it is a frequent occurrence that you get a cow that just doesn’t flush, she either makes no eggs or they are low quality and not fit to implant. It is frustrating, but we now give an animal two chances and if she doesn’t respond second time it is too expen- sive to persevere with her. Our best flush was Derrydorragh Miss Rhubarb Burns Red who gave 14 embryos resulting in four red Colt P heifer calves, one of which has since been flushed and produced two red heifers. The cow herself has only ever had natural bull calves, so without flushing this family would never have developed. I think it is better to gauge success when you get calves on the ground, a good flush of eggs doesn’t necessarily mean a lot of pregnancies. On the flip side a moderate flush of three or four eggs can leave as many calves as a big flush.
How do you manage donor cows and recipients? Andrew Dennison: Donor cows that are milking run with the rest of the herd, we do separate maiden donors out, but keep manage- ment the same. Recipients run with the rest of the bulling heifers, but after they have an embryo implanted they are kept inside in a group for the rest of the gestation.
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