Posted on February 24, 2009 - by Russell

Artificial Insemination and What It Can Do For You

by Michael Myers, M.S.

Myers Reproductive Services

1999

The most significant advance in cattle breeding technology has been the development of freezing procedures for semen which has led to the development of Artificial Insemination (AI) industry. The main purpose for pursuing AI in the cattle industry is to propagate superior genes within a designated cow herd or herds at a reasonable cost. Through the use of AI, one bull has the potential to inseminate several thousand females per year. Having just any bull in your breeding herd can damage the quality of your cattle for generations. Inferior and usually inexpensive bulls can lower your cost per pregnancy though cost you dearly in the long-haul in poor performance. However, when semen from a highly selected bull is used, great genetics gains can be achieved in just a few generations.

The advantages of AI in cattle are numerous: (1) Propagation of outstanding genetic traits from superior sires. (2) Increase the overall performance of the whole cattle breed through the breeding of superior sires. (3) Elimination of having bulls on your place. As you know bulls are famous for creating havoc to your pens and fences as well as creating problems with other neighboring herds and neighbors as well. (4) AI allows for the use of frozen semen after a bull is incapacitated or dead. (5) Reduce or completely inhibit the spread of venereal diseases. Bulls that are collected at an approved collection facility have gone through extensive testing for disease. Antibiotics are also added to the semen during processing to aid in the prevention of any bacterial contamination that may take place during the collection process. (6) When using estrous synchronizing schemes, AI has the ability to produce a “short or optimal” calving season whenever you desire.

Semen is collected from highly selected bulls usually at a designated sire collection center and frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen tanks for later use. Frozen semen can also be stored in liquid nitrogen indefinitely. Semen can be collected from properly fed and managed bulls as early as 12 months of age.

The success of any AI program depends on several factors: 1) quality of frozen semen, 2) fertility of the cow, 3) good quality restraining equipment (working pens and squeeze chute), 4) competency of the AI technician and last but not least, 5) accurate heat detection! Accurate heat detection is the most vital part of any successful breeding program – learn to enjoy the long hours with little sleep.

Set goals for your herd when deciding which bull or bulls you deem appropriate. Evaluate your herd and try to select for traits that help complement your stronger traits or better yet, select on traits that help to improve in areas that you feel may be lacking. It may be advisable to have someone who is knowledgeable about your breed and unbiased to come to your place and try to help you make decisions on what bull or bulls that you may need to use on your cows. It is ill-advised to select sires based solely on one selected trait. When you select for improvement in only one trait, you help to strength that one trait, however all other traits tend to diminish in quality.

Beginning an AI program can be challenging. Make the decision on whether you want to AI your cows or have someone else do it for you. There are several “3 to 4 day” AI training schools that you can attend in your local area. These schools are very informative and serve as a good place to meet people who can help you out later on down the road. Once you have decided which bull or bulls you would like to use, call the owner or sire service center where the bull is collected and place an order to have it shipped to you or to the person you have selected to use as your AI Technician. You must have a liquid nitrogen tank of proper size that is filled to the proper level and that has an adequate capacity for the amount of semen you desire prior to ordering. Next, decide which season you would like to have your calves born. Develop a plan as to the type of program you would like to use based on natural vs. estrus synchronized heats.

Put the pencil to it and I think you will find in the long-run that you can improve your herd’s genetics in many ways by implementing an AI program that can benefit you and your breed as well.