Benefits of AI

Benefits of AI

Although most cattle producers have determined their breeding program for this year — it is never to early to consider plans for next year. Often when visiting with ranchers about artificial insemination, I hear — "Well, I don't have the the corrals or handling facilities to use AI as one of the most likely excuses for not considering AI. ?So in addition to having a mobile AI breeding facility, Genex Independent Contractor Clint Sexson reminds ranchers of several of benefits of using AI in their breeding program. For example he says that by breeding your cows AI — your calves are born earlier in the calving season.?Sexson: "Those calves are going to outweigh those calves born the last day your bull ran if you're in 60 to 75 days. They are going to outweigh those calves substantially just because they are born early. Then when you add the genetics that are available to you. So rather than having to pay $5,000 for a bull that is going to breed 10 cows the first year, you can AI to a bull that maybe cost 100,000 to $200,000 — and have the very best genetics. If you have 100 cows you will potentially get 50 to 70 calves out of that one bull. For me, it cascades from there. If you keep those heifers mates to those steers in your cow herd then you have a group of half-sisters. Your calf crop is more consistent and if you breed them again, you get more consistency."
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