Our success has been quite good with this program the last three years. This past year was our best yet. It has been a bit of a hassle, but the economics have justified doing it. The biggest -threat from following this system has been the extreme heat demonstration by these cows. We have had some serious leg and hip injuries, and as a result some cows have had to be sacrificed for hamburger.
Most cows do breed back that summer.
If a cow is a really good cow and she does not respond to the hormone shots, we will keep the cow and breed her with the other cows and then hold her over till next spring, I figure that I can feed her cheaper on rough pasture land than she can be culled and buy one to replace her. If a person does not want to go through with all these injections, you can go ahead and breed later for a longer calving window, and in the spring the late breeders can be induced to calve early. I have not had any experience with this system, but I do know that some people have had more problems with retained placentas. I personally do not prefer this method. Birdsfoot Trefoil Steadfast, a new variety of birdsfoot trefoil, will soon be available to farmers.