|
Here are some thoughts to consider when evaluating
the justification for purchasing the CUS-2000 Ultrasound Scanner.
- Confirming
your own does have been successfully bred. This is the
primary reason we have an Ultrasound Scanner. We do individual
breeding and we know exactly when each doe was bred with a specific
buck. We sonogram the doe 35-45 days following the breeding. We have
a spreadsheet of the breeding days, the doe and buck. If we see the
doe is bred, we mark the spreadsheet and calculate the estimated
kidding dates so we know to watch a specific doe. If the doe is not
bred, we know to watch for another heat cycle from her.
- Validating AI or Flush
results. If a breeder is going to the
work and expense to do an AI or Flush, it is important to identify
how successful the results were and possibly spot any problems that
may have caused the AI/Flush to be unsuccessful. I want to be able
to see the results myself instead of taking the word of the person
that was doing the AI/Flush.
- Confirm the breeding from
offering stud services. If we are
breeding another person's animal, we only charge for a successful
breeding. That is only determined by looking at a sonogram of the
doe following the breeding.
- Give other breeders confidence
in your stud services. It is a major
plus to be able to tell another breeder that the breeding was a
success AND be able to show them a live sonogram when they come to
pick up their animal(s).
- Add value to Does you are
selling. Many times when we are
selling a mature Doe, we will offer her for sale as guaranteed bred.
That can only be done by being able to sonogram the Doe before being
picked up and offer to show the buyer a live sonogram of the Doe.
Does sold as bred always have an increased price because they are
guaranteed bred and a bred Does seems to sell better.
- Early identification of
Aborting Does. If you know a Doe was
successfully bred on a certain time but later she shows no signs of
being pregnant, you can recheck the Doe. If she is no longer
pregnant, she has lost or aborted for some reason. If we see this,
we may start treating the other pregnant Does to try and prevent
additional abortions. Just saving a few Does from aborting can save
a breeding season and pay for the CUS-2000 immediately.
- Additional Income for
Sonograming other breeders animals.
Once breeders know we have an Ultrasound Scanner for doing
sonograms, we get many requests to sonogram other breeders Does.
Some people charge between $5-$10 a head to sonogram other breeders
animals. An important point with the CUS-2000 is its light weight
and portability. Carrying the CUS-2000 to another breeders farm is
like carrying a paperback book.
- Identify an animal that has a
breeding problem. If you are checking
the Does after they have been bred, it will be easy to spot a trend
of a buck that is not able to successfully breed Does or a Doe that
is having trouble successfully breeding. Again, spotting one of
these trends can save a breeding season and quickly pay for the
CUS-2000.
- Give you a more professional appearance to
other breeders. You may look more professional to other breeders
that are considering doing business with you if they understand how
you utilize the CUS-2000 in your breeding program, validating
Does sold as bred, or successful
stud services. You never know what
will cause a potential buyer to give you an edge in selling animals
or services but owning the CUS-2000 will likely be a plus for you.
- Determine if a Doe has a dead
unborn kid. There is a possibility
that if a Doe is not going into labor when you expected her to, you
may be able to see if there is any movement of the unborn kids using
the CUS-2000. You won't be able to see all of the kid but you may be
able to see if any limbs are moving.
- Validate bred Does at a
Production Sale. Many times a Doe will
be sold at a production sale as being exposed to a buck. You can
easily check the Doe before the auction begins to see if she is
bred. The CUS-2000 is so light and portable that you can carry it
around in the viewing pens, sonogram a Doe and know if you want to
bid on her or not according to the status of her being pregnant.
- Tax Deduction.
The CUS-2000 is a valid tax deduction.
- Group Project.
This is an excellent tool for a few local
breeders or a regional group to pitch in together to purchase the
CUS-2000 and take turns using it. This is not a tool that is
utilized day in and day out by an individual. However, it can easily
be scheduled between a group of breeders to share without each
breeder investing in it alone. Plus the light, portability of the
CUS-2000 makes it ideal for carrying around to different farms and
ranches so multiple breeders can get the benefits.
- Once you have used it, you will miss it
when it is not
being available. Once we purchased our first Ultrasound Scanner, we
would go out and use it at the drop of a hat. We thought nothing of
it until it broke and we wanted to go out and sonogram a doe being
sold as bred or our first bred Does started coming up on days 35-45.
It becomes irritating to know we can't go out and sonogram like we
had been doing for 4-5 years before.
I hope this list
has helped you in considering if you can justify purchasing the
CUS-2000. Almost everyone of these considerations have been utilized by
us and it has been our justification for purchasing our new CUS-2000
Digital Ultrasound Scanner. |
