Artificial insemination can bring high quality genetics to your herd.
Dr. Gordon Doak, president of the Columbia, Mo-based National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB), said roughly 10 percent of beef cattle in the U.S. are bred to A.I., compared to 70-75 percent of the dairy cattle. He believes the latter has plateaued.
But he thinks the use of A.I. in beef cattle is increasing; he said the different synchronization protocols are, “being very well received by the commercial breeder,” and also expects the record cattle prices to drive interest in A.I.
NAAB offers basic A.I. training information, as do the breeding services. Doak said whether you should hire a breeding service depends on a number of factors. “The technicians are professionals,” he pointed out. “They’re trained in genetic selection; they’re trained in reproductive services and nutrition.” But, he said, with enough training and practice a producer can become proficient enough to achieve success.
But there’s a high price in time and labor, and Don Hubbell decided he can no longer afford it. Hubbell, Resident Director of the University of Arkansas Livestock and Forestry Research Station at Batesville, told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor they had to stop using A.I. on the farm’s herd. While they continue to use A.I. sired bulls with desirable EPDs, he said, “We just don’t have the manpower and the time,” for A.I.
But if you do have the resources, Hubbell said A.I. is worthwhile. “You can buy way above average bulls for somewhere in the $20-30 per straw range,” he said. “Some of them are even cheaper, if you want to use some young sires that are unproven but may have a good pedigree.” Compare that to a bull with high value EPDs that may cost $2,500-$5,000, and could be injured or otherwise left unable to service the cows. “That makes him worthless, or costs you a lot of time waiting for him to heal or get back in shape,” Hubbell said. “Whereas with A.I., the semen should be ready to go when you are.”
The cost of A.I. goes up by about $20 per head if you hire a breeding service, which will synchronize the cows so they can all be serviced at the same time. A professional will also achieve an 80-90 percent conception success rate; if you do it yourself, Hubbell said, the rate could be closer to 60-70 percent or even lower.
Hubbell said the process is not complicated, but does require training. The semen has to be thawed at a specific temperature in a warm water bath; the straw is inserted into a gun, which also has to be warmed slightly. “You only have about a 10th of a milliliter of semen in there,” Hubbell said. “Any improper handling techniques can decrease your conception rate, because you may be losing semen by the second, so to speak.”
“It’s a great technique for getting virgin heifers bred,” Hubbell said. “They all calve within a short period of time and get them on the ground quickly.” Purebred operators will use A.I. on high-value cows to increase the value of the offspring, but will resort to a clean up bull after one or two failed attempts.
But Hubbell said, producers need to take a lot of things into account before starting on an A.I. program. “When it’s time to set those cows up, you’ve got to be able to catch them, get the implants in them, and give them their shots,” he said. “A few days later, when it’s time to bring them back to remove the implants and get another shot, you’ve got to be able to catch them and handle them to get this done. If it’s scheduled to be done on a Friday, waiting until Saturday is not going to work.”
