AS-407 April 1973
Considerations for a Beef Cow Herd AI Program
W. L. Singleton, Animal Sciences Department
Artificial insemination (AI) is the act of depositing semen into the cow’s reproductive tract by means other than a bull. And by using semen from superior sires, AI can profitably increase the quality and gaining ability of beef cattle.
After a rather slow start, AI has more recently been gaining in popularity among beef producers for several reasons, among them (a) relaxation of breed association rules, (b) introduction of exotic breeds,
(c) greater realization of the importance of performance testing, and (d) increased interest in crossbreeding. Currently, about 4% of all beef cows are artificially inseminated.
The purpose of this publication is to discuss briefly the advantages and disadvantages of AI, the conditions necessary for success, and the mechanics of starting and carrying out an AI program.
4.	Improved reproductive health of the herd. When properly used, the separate sterile pipette for breeding each cow does not spread disease from cow to cow. AI can be helpful in controlling vibriosis and trichomonas.
5.	A tool for crossbreeding. Several breeds of bulls can be used in the same year without ownership. Cows can be maintained in one pasture and still be selectively mated to bulls of the producer’s choice.
6.	Continued use of a valuable sire in the case of his injury or death. Semen can be collected from injured bulls with an elec-tro-ejaculator without requiring them to mount a cow. A bank of semen in storage allows a bull to be used after his death or after a serious injury.
THE BENEFITS OF ’AI’
1.	More widespread use of genetically superior sires. Once identified, the use of superior bulls can be maximized. Through AI it is possible to inseminate up to 20,000 cows per year with the semen from one bull, regardless of where the bull or cows are located.
7.	More accurate records can be kept. The records kept on heat detection and conception rate focuses more attention on reproductive efficiency in a herd, thus giving a base for improvement. Breeding dates give a good estimation of calving time, there by enabling the producer to watch cows closer at calving.
2.	Services of proven sires at a lower cost. Through AI a producer’s cow can be mated to bulls that he could not afford to own.
3.	Elimination of the cost, care and danger of keeping bulls in small herds. In most
THE LIMITATIONS OF ’AI’
1.	Requires good herd management. A herd with previously low reproductive performance because of disease, inadequate nutrition, extended calving season or other
Cooperative Extension Service • Purdue University • West Lafayette, Indiana
large herds, how still preferred.
>Beef Reproduction