Coffee anyone ?

[farmerjan]

Semen tank.... a tank with a vacuum layer, that hold liquid nitrogen, for the storage of semen that is used to breed animals with... The bull studs for cattle have different bulls that are collected and that semen is used for breeding the cattle artificially. It is the way to breed cattle to most any bull you can afford... to improve your animals.... without the hassle of having and maintaining a bull on your property and the multitude of problems that can create.
The semen is collected at these special farms that house only bulls.... they live in some pretty "posh" digs, and just have to contribute semen for use all over the country and the world... The semen is checked for quality, some is sorted for bulls or heifers (the semen carrying the x or y chromosome) then a carrier liquid is added ... and flash frozen in very small 1/4 or 1/2 cc straws... it has to be kept in the liquid nitrogen until someone wants to use it, then it is thawed and used to breed a cow..
There is also goat semen that is frozen, I believe @rachels.haven has bred some AI.... I assume that some sheep have been bred AI but I don't know of anyone that does... They also use breed pigs AI... but if I am not mistaken it is NOT frozen, just chilled very low temps and overnighted and has to be used in xx amount of hours...
The liquid nitrogen will evaporate slowly... and the tanks have to be refilled/recharged every 2-4 months... all according to what type tank you have... Most are 90 or 120 day tanks... The guy comes from Select Sires to do my tank every 3 months.... If the semen tank "goes dry" and the semen thaws, it cannot be refrozen and you are out hundreds or thousands of dollars... One straw is anywhere from a cheap $10 to as much as several hundred.... Most of what is in my tank is $25-75 straws....

 

[RR Homestead]

@farmerjan Covered it far better than I would have. Sorry @fuzzi! I forget everyone doesn't know these things. Apologies.
We've been strictly Artificial Insemination for many years. When our last bull swam under a fence in the creek to visit the girls next door that was the final straw. Frozen "goods" are far better behaved and cheaper to maintain. It gives us a lot of flexibility to used both sexed and conventional semen from bulls we could never afford. It also allows us to select our best cows to breed for replacement heifers or bulls to sell.
We used to have a rep like @farmerjan who filled our tank. When he retired and CA got so bad they no longer will service smaller accounts so I now have to drive to a bigger town and get it filled every 3 months. Our tank holds for 4 months total before it gets close to going dry. I can't risk the loss so I fill it at 3 months.

 

[fuzzi]

Thank you, both. I'm pretty sure an online search with "semen tank" would have had some nasty results, p0rn sites.


Seriously.

In my short time on BYH I have learned so much, like what a creep gate is, about BPW. I appreciate people taking the time to explain herd stuff.

 

[fuzzi]

When our last bull swam under a fence in the creek to visit the girls next door that was the final straw.

"Final straw"

 

[Baymule]

Today we leave here at 10:30 a.m. to drive down to Portland to get checked in for hub's Ocular Melanoma surgery. I think I described it. It will be about 2.5 hours surgery. I'll bring a couple of books and an exterior battery bank for my phone. I'm stress eating right now.

I'd rather be with Bay on her two days of adventures!!

I hope it all comes out for the good! Prayers for you both.

 

[Baymule]

Coffee is ready, I've had my usual 2 cups, made 3, I think I'll go get it. I woke up at 2 AM, got up at 4 AM. At the crack of dawn, I'll be outside to check air in tires on truck, hitch up trailer, grab clothes, ice cooler of meat for DD, dog food for Ozel, jug of water, do morning chores, put Ozel in back seat, make like cow plop and hit the trail. I go out from Huntsville, trickle downward on back roads, to avoid the gladiator ring of death that is Houston freeways and Interstates. No thanks, truck and trailer? I'm going around Houston. It takes an hour longer, 6 hours, maybe more because I'll go slower pulling a trailer. I can't pick up the horse until 9 AM tomorrow, I just want to get home before dark. No stops except for fuel and that will be every 200 miles, my gauge doesn't work. 330 miles one way.gonna try to leave by 9AM or before.

 

[fuzzi]

Coffee is ready, I've had my usual 2 cups, made 3, I think I'll go get it. I woke up at 2 AM, got up at 4 AM. At the crack of dawn, I'll be outside to check air in tires on truck, hitch up trailer, grab clothes, ice cooler of meat for DD, dog food for Ozel, jug of water, do morning chores, put Ozel in back seat, make like cow plop and hit the trail. I go out from Huntsville, trickle downward on back roads, to avoid the gladiator ring of death that is Houston freeways and Interstates. No thanks, truck and trailer? I'm going around Houston. It takes an hour longer, 6 hours, maybe more because I'll go slower pulling a trailer. I can't pick up the horse until 9 AM tomorrow, I just want to get home before dark. No stops except for fuel and that will be every 200 miles, my gauge doesn't work. 330 miles one way.gonna try to leave by 9AM or before.

Praying for traveling mercies!

Buford holding down the fort?

 

[Baymule]

Sheba will be in the front field while I am gone. I usually put her in the middle field with Buford or vice versa so they can play, then time to go to work in the evening. 2 groups of sheep, need more dogs, like this elusive puppy that isn't getting made.......

 

[fuzzi]

Sheba will be in the front field while I am gone. I usually put her in the middle field with Buford or vice versa so they can play, then time to go to work in the evening. 2 groups of sheep, need more dogs, like this elusive puppy that isn't getting made.......

Well, you have a captive audience on the drive, so an opportunity to firmly instill what is expected of Ozel.

 

[Mini Horses]

Wow. Memories. I did a one-way 10 hr to pick up a mini. Was a football thing going on and no rooms! Of course, not being a fan I had no clue slept in my truck about 4 hr, loaded at 2am & headed home. Nutty trip been years. Thanks for the memories.

So beyond those thoughts, I'm just thinking chores will be nicer this morn with 50* not 30* like yesterday. Being a cold weather wimp that's more to my liking. Yesterday my goats scrounged thru one of my back fields...they opened a tied gate where baling twine had come loose...and browsed nicely. Everyone was FULL, came to call when I noticed them "gone" and weren't interested in more than a good chew session. Saved a bale of hay! Might let them back there today, hay is expensive and the field needs their help. It's winter browse.

Looks like it "might" sprinkle with these clouds. Weather forecast says no but, they've been wrong before. Either way, just glad to have normal temps back.

Time for another cuppa wakeup.