Cow Camp Chatter: Artificial Insemination: Is it for your ranch?

Ron Torell, Long-Standing Educator and Advocate of Agriculture

Technology should not be oversold. A successful artificial insemination (A.I.) program takes time, labor, the facilities to properly process cattle multiple times, livestock handling skills and cows in adequate body condition and postpartum interval. It is imperative to have an understanding of the estrous cycle and heat synchronization protocol. Time and effort is required for accurate heat detection. Unless you want 30% of your cows to be open you will still need a cleanup bull or a second round of heat detection and A.I. Following the process through diligently from the beginning when the decision to A.I. is first made to the end when the last cow is bred will yield the greatest success.