The Heart of Our Business

Our Recips

We cannot put enough emphasis on the importance of a good recipient cow for the success of your embryo transfer program. That’s why we follow a strict guideline when selecting cows to enter the program. First, she has to be mature in her own growth so that all her energy is spent on milking and growing her calf, yet young enough that her physical soundness or milk production does not become compromised. This has led us to select cows that are a minimum of 4 years old and a maximum of 6 years old. Once their age is verified, we select cows that have no known history of calving difficulties, has a vigorous calf at side, and has successfully passed a 5 panel disease test including: BVD PI, Johnes, Anaplasmosis, BLV, and Brucelllosis, only then will the cows be entered into our recipient herd.

Nutrition

Nutrition is the key. At 200 days gestation our recips are placed on a total mixed ration of varying ingredients, depending on the year, but usually grass hay, alfalfa hay, corn silage, and a protein source such as cottonseed meal. This allows us to control nutritional requirements in hopes for a more successful outcome for you, our customers. She will remain on that ration, with adjustments, until she has weaned her calf at side at 180 days and 90 days into her next pregnancy gestation. Also, recips are on free choice Vitaferm mineral at all times. If the recip is retained by us for the 180 Day Weaned Calf Program, she will be put on pasture with free choice Vitaferm mineral and salt from 90 days gestation to 200 days gestation when her nutritional requirements are at her lowest.